Story of Mara Sugar FC's female CEO dreaming of lifting FKF Premier League title
Reading Time: 11min | Sat. 21.02.26. | 19:30
Since her appointment in July 2024, Ommala fondly referred as "Madam CEO" has risen to the challenge, guiding Mara Sugar FC onto the table of men while shaping a bright future for the club
Ruth Ommala thought she had written the final chapter of her sporting journey when she hung up her hockey stick, while still a second-year student at the Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST ).
Certain that her future lay in the corporate world, she turned her back on sports and channelled her energy into pursuing a Bachelor's of Business Management- Finance Major.
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She, just like a majority of young people, firmly believed that excelling in academics would knock open the door to her financial freedom, one that she had laid a strong foundation for during her time as a pupil at Ndalu Primary School, Kitale.
And yet 14 years after she bid farewell to sports, she found herself drawn back- not as the girl who walked away, but as someone reshaped by time, returning to a game that no longer looked the way she once imagined.
Her reconnection with the competitive, occasionally chaotic and largely thrilling nature of sports was larger in scale and far more impactful.
She came back not with a hockey stick, mouth guard in place, boots laced tight and bulky shin guards strapped along her tibia and fibula.
The electrifying winger, who once tormented defenders for fun, was no longer charging down the flank, nor sounding the board from open play, the spot or short corners.
Instead, she marched back armed with the requisite skills and experience to lead Narok County’s sporting pride — Mara Sugar Football Club, stepping into a new arena where strategy, leadership, and vision matter just as much as speed and dribbling once did.
"When I stopped playing hockey, I did not see myself working or interacting with the sports industry regularly.
Although I deeply loved sports, I saw nothing that would drag me back. All of my focus was trained on making a successful career out of the course I was taking at the university," opened up Ommala, while settling in for the interview.
Interestingly, she admits she would have continued playing-and perhaps won titles for the national hockey team and at club level were it not for academic paths that separated her from her beloved twin sister, Betsy Ommala.
The sisters fell for hockey while students at Mukumu Girls' High School, forming part of the dreaded team that proudly clinched the national title in 2005.
However, their paths diverged after high school, with Ruth joining MMUST, while Betsy enrolled at Moi University.
While Betsy went on to hit the peak of her career, having played the game possibly to the highest possible level, in contrast, her sister's playing journey came to a premature end.
Yet, what seemed like a setback and an abandoned dream in sports became a defining turning point in her life and would earn her a title that many can only wish for in the Kenyan sporting arena.
Choosing to channel her energy into building a distinguished white-collar career ultimately procured her a return to the front rows of sports, following her appointment as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Mara Sugar FC in July 2024.
The outfit, located in the Enoosaen area in Narok County, is owned and bankrolled by the Transmara Sugar Company Limited.
The management entrusted Ommala with the responsibility of running the club after the demise of Thomas Oduor, an Information Technology professional, who had quietly steered the team from the lower tiers to the second division by the time of his passing.
Ommala contends that the management would not have turned to her able hands were it not for the strong academic background and years of corporate experience, including her familiarity with the operations of the parent company.
Prior to her appointment as Mara Sugar FC CEO, she had worked at the sugar company's Marketing Department since 2016.
Further, she had gained significant professional experience in her craft, having worked for an insurance company, Nokia (before its transition to Microsoft) and Chase Bank.
All these experiences, coupled with her postgraduate Master's of Business Administration Major in Marketing and Strategic Management from Daystar University, fully equipped her for the task of leading the team.
“I would never have believed it if someone had told me that one day I would become the CEO of a top football club in Kenya.
However, life had other plans for me, and I am glad to serve the team, the parent company, and most importantly, contribute to the development of sports in the country.
I embraced the challenge positively after my appointment, and so far so good," she remarked.
Securing FKFPL promotion
Ommala, a firstborn in a family of five, assumed the corner office at Mara Sugar at a critical time, as the club yearned for solid leadership to navigate through two trying phases without losing track of the season's main objective.
First, the outfit was keen on remaining glued together following the loss of Oduor, who served as a sturdy bond between them and the parent company.
This meant that the new leader had to uphold the established standards, sustain the confidence and trust the company had in the club during Oduor's time.
At the same time, Mara were firmly in contention for the National Super League (NSL) title and automatic promotion to the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKFPL).
Despite minimal orientation for the role, Ommala delivered emphatically as Mara clinched the NSL title and bagged a direct ticket to the top-tier alongside the 2008 Premier League champions, Mathare United.
She is quick to deflect full credit for the achieved goals, insisting that collective responsibility and team spirit worked their magic, even against the odds.
"I joined the top seat at a very trying moment for the club, but I am glad we collectively managed to make it to the top level.
This would not have happened were it not for the support I received from my bosses and the cooperation from the rest of the team," she said.
Crucially, the backing from her sporting family, coupled with the strong values planted through the Church of God of East Africa, helped her navigate the challenges that would have easily overwhelmed even the fully prepared.
She proudly hails her father, Fredrick Ommala, a former footballer and staunch AFC Leopards fan, and her mother, Martha Ommala, who played volleyball in her youth, as the strong pillars upon which she stood on back then and still leans on.
Further, the confidence Transmara Sugar Company’s Chief Executive Officer, Frederick North-Coombes, and other senior management officials placed in her leadership played a key role in the milestones the club has achieved under her tenure.
"I must also commend my parents and siblings for offering strong support. They have consistently done it over the years, and it has really helped me a lot.
I have a supportive boss who believes in me. He listens, counsels and has created a conducive environment for me to perform effectively," said Ruth, while occasionally responding to pressing official calls and emails, a testament to how demanding her role is.
Stepping into FKFPL
Mara Sugar's promotion to the top tier presented a daunting challenge for Ommala, as preparing for the competition was on a whole new scale.
The outfit's berth in the FKFPL required recruiting new and experienced players, strengthening the technical bench and meeting the required club licensing demands.
A bigger budget-and the need to tick all the top-tier boxes right- meant that the admitted introvert had to lead from the front, making sure everything was ready for the opening match against Kakamega Homeboyz.
Navigating through the politically charged period of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) elections also demanded her time and attention.
This translated into twice the workload, with no margin for error.
Despite stepping into an environment largely dominated by men and having her leadership tested to the fullest, Ommala did not let it deter her from guiding Mara to a successful debut season.
The club finished 14th on the FKFPL log and punched above its weight in the Mozzart Bet Cup, thanks to the fourth-place finish.
Looking back on the club's first season in the top division, she cannot help but smile at the satisfaction of having reached the goal she set out to achieve: retaining their place at the table of men.
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From the very start, she was never alone as steadfast support came from her pillars of strength, with distinguished women in senior roles across the competition offering guidance and encouragement.
For context, by 2024, there was a single female club Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in Lynda Ambiyo in the top flight, with Ommala becoming the second one following Mara's promotion.
Presently, the number has ballooned to three as APS Bomet is firmly under Madam Rose Chemutai, demonstrating that gender is no barrier to service delivery at the highest level.
Besides the three, Sally Bollo serves as the Gor Mahia vice chairperson, and the top-tier competition features numerous female referees and administrators excelling in various roles.
"Life in the top division has been fairly good. We struggled in our first four months but stabilised after gathering some experience.
Finishing fourth in the Mozzart Bet Cup was definitely the highest moment of our first season at the top level. I am hopeful of a respectable finish in the current season."
Stepping into a male-dominated arena, where management comes under intense scrutiny when results are not forthcoming, does not intimidate a woman who draws inspiration from reading books, particularly the holy one.
"Personally, I do not care whether the space I am in is male or female dominated. What matters is whether I am competent and equal to the task.
The job has its own fair share of challenges, but as I said earlier, I have good support from the system. My fellow club CEOs have been supportive," added Ommala.
Enjoying the prop of Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed and the experience of serving on the body's Legal Committee between December 2024 and December 2025 has shaped her football management skills.
Earning a slot at the International Matches Organising Committee (IMOC) and playing a key role during the 2024 CHAN, where she served in the Marketing Committee have further refined her expertise.
"If there is one individual who has made my time in the Kenyan top tier pleasant, it is President Hussein. His guidance has shaped me and helped broaden my understanding of football governance.
Serving in various Football Kenya Federation bodies and contributing to the success of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) have definitely made me a better person. I look forward to a brighter future and more service to the game."
Challenges
On the flip side of the success stories lie challenges and moments that Ommala has had to confront since rising to the top job.
As expected, losing matches or failing to perform to the expected standards topped her list of forgettable moments.
What is even more painful, she says, is letting go of a member of the team, either running out of contract or for any other valid reasons.
“There have been challenges in the job, but thankfully, we have addressed them as a team. Managing disputes that are within my mandate and ensuring that the club does not end up in court or on the wrong side of the law is quite demanding.
Moreover, since we operate like a family, seeing one of us leave is always difficult,” she opened up.
Plan for Mara Sugar FC
It is not lost on Ommala that clubs bankrolled by sugar companies are often left financially crippled once the parent company begins grappling with the never-ending challenges in the industry.
Sony Sugar FC and Chemelil Sugar FC, once key pillars of the Kenyan Premier League (KPL), have since folded, while Nzoia Sugar FC is struggling to stay afloat.
It is on this basis that the travelling enthusiast wants to establish strong structures at Mara Sugar FC to avoid following the path taken by other clubs, who exited the stage in disgrace.
Seeking additional financial partners and developing a self-sustaining model for running the club, remain plans she hopes to actualise within the next five years.
While some club officials have a penchant for spending hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of shillings under the pretext of benchmarking trips to Europe, Ommala intends to draw lessons from the local market, particularly from Kenya Police FC, which boasts more than three commercial partners.
“I plan to build a strong brand for both the parent company and the football club. I am developing strategies to attract more shirt sponsors and ultimately reach a point where we can sustain ourselves.
I am studying how financially successful clubs have achieved this within the Kenyan football landscape. The foundation I intend to lay should be long-lasting, ensuring the club continues to flourish even after I am long gone.”
Besides casting her net deep into the corporate world, Ommala envisions a trophy-laden tenure and a strong youth structure within the team.
Extensive scouting, maintaining a wide pool of players, and featuring consistently in continental competitions also form key parts of her plan.
“Our goal is to win the FKF Premier League and the Mozzart Bet Cup within the next five years. If Kenya Police FC achieved this four seasons after their promotion, we can do it too.
We intend to have vibrant youth teams, become a hub for talented players, and compete strongly in continental football,” said Ommala, who also draws inspiration from the management style of KCB FC.
Personal goals
While a typical day for an administrator who proudly wears the “Madam CEO” title is demanding, she recognises that pursuing personal growth and achieving her goals is a responsibility she must not overlook.
She hopes to return to school to take a course in sports management and leadership.
Hitting the gym, travelling more, and spending time with family are also set to claim a portion of her otherwise limited time.