How Owiti twins are cementing place in history of Kenyan hockey
Reading Time: 7min | Wed. 27.05.26. | 17:16
Beyond the medals, trophies and national team appearances lies a powerful story of family, sacrifice and an unbreakable bond
For most athletes, the journey to the top is often walked alone.
The sacrifices, setbacks, victories and pressure usually belong to one individual chasing a dream.
But for identical twins Maureen and Alice Owiti, every major step of their hockey journey has been shared.
Download our Mozzart Sport app for more news
From the hockey field of Sinyolo Girls' High School to Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST) and from Lakers Hockey Club to the Kenya women’s national hockey team, the Owiti twins have built a unique story of sisterhood, resilience and sporting excellence together.
Their journey has not only seen them rise through the ranks of Kenyan hockey, but also become part of one of the most successful periods for Lakers Hockey Club and women’s hockey in western Kenya.
Together, they helped Sinyolo Girls win the Kenya Secondary Schools Sports Association (KSSSA) national hockey title in 2016, the last time the school achieved the feat.
10 years later, they would go on to win the 2025 Kenya Hockey Union (KHU) Women’s Premier League title and lift the Africa Cup for Club Champions (ACCC) trophy in Harare with Lakers Hockey Club.
At the international level, both twins have represented Kenya in major competitions including the Africa Cup of Nations, Commonwealth Games, World Cup and Olympic qualifiers, FIH Test matches and Hockey5s competitions.
While much of their journey has been shared, Alice has also earned individual recognition along the way.
In 2019, she was named the Most Promising Player in the KHU Women’s Premier League, underlining her emergence as one of the country’s brightest young talents.
Six years later, she capped off Lakers Hockey Club’s historic continental triumph by being named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) at the 2025 Africa Cup for Club Champions in Harare.
Alice has earned 27 senior caps for Kenya, while Maureen has accumulated 19 caps, with both featuring in the 2024 Hockey5s World Cup qualifiers.
Yet beyond the medals, trophies and national team appearances lies a story deeply rooted in family, sacrifice and an unbreakable connection.
“Sharing almost our entire hockey journey as twins has been very special for us,” says Alice.
“From Sinyolo Girls High School, MMUST, Lakers Hockey Club and now to the national team, we have grown together both on and off the pitch. Having someone who understands your struggles, sacrifices and dreams without even explaining them is a blessing.”
Maureen echoes the same sentiment.
“It has honestly been a blessing for both of us. We’ve always motivated each other, corrected each other and celebrated every small win together. Having your twin beside you through every stage makes the journey easier because there’s someone who truly understands the sacrifices, pressure and hard work behind it all.”
Like many school athletes, hockey did not initially appear to be a life-changing opportunity for the twins.
It started as a simple school activity, something fun they could do together.
“At first, hockey was honestly just a school activity and something fun for us to do together,” recalls Alice.
But as they continued competing at higher levels, their perspective gradually changed.
Participation in regional tournaments, national competitions and East Africa games exposed them to stronger opposition and wider opportunities beyond school sports.
One of the defining moments came in 2018 when Sinyolo Girls traveled to France for the Centenary Celebration commemorating World War II.
The experience opened their eyes to the possibilities hockey could provide.
“We started meeting top players and coaches, travelling for matches and seeing girls earn opportunities through hockey,” explains Maureen.
“That’s when we realised the sport could actually take us far and change our lives.”
At Sinyolo Girls, the twins became part of one of the school’s golden generations in hockey.
Their success helped elevate the school’s reputation nationally while also creating a pathway for more players from western Kenya to believe they could succeed at elite level.
Their transition to MMUST and Lakers Hockey Club only strengthened their growth.
At Lakers, the twins became central figures in a side that has steadily transformed into a dominant force in Kenyan women’s hockey.
Their chemistry on the pitch has become one of the team’s defining strengths.
People often say twins think alike, and for the Owiti sisters, that connection extends naturally into hockey.
“Sometimes we understand each other without even talking,” says Maureen. “We already know each other’s movement, timing and decisions, which makes teamwork easier.”
Alice adds that even simple eye contact during matches is enough to communicate intentions.
“That chemistry improves our communication during matches because even simple eye contact can be enough to understand each other’s intentions,” she says. “It also helps us remain calm under pressure because we trust one another completely.”
Still, despite sharing identical appearances and similar journeys, the twins insist they are different players with distinct qualities on the field.
“One of us may be more calm and composed in controlling play, while the other may be more aggressive and energetic in pressing and attacking situations,” explains Alice.
Maureen describes their partnership as complementary rather than identical.
“What makes our partnership unique is how well we understand and complement each other during the game.”
That understanding proved vital during Lakers Hockey Club’s memorable 2025 season.
The Kisumu-based club enjoyed a historic campaign, winning both the KHU Women’s Premier League title and the Africa Cup for Club Champions in Harare, Zimbabwe.
For many clubs, continental success is often defined purely by results.
But for Lakers, the ACCC triumph carried a much deeper meaning.
According to Alice, the road to Harare itself symbolized the sacrifices Kenyan clubs continue to endure in pursuit of continental success.
“As a club, we faced financial challenges that forced us to travel by road all the way to Zimbabwe for the competition,” she says.
“It was a long and exhausting journey, but we stayed united, focused and determined to represent Kenya proudly.”
The difficult journey ultimately made the victory more emotional.
“Knowing the struggles and sacrifices the team made before eventually becoming African champions made the victory even more meaningful and unforgettable for us.”
The tournament also marked a personal milestone for Alice, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player after playing a key role in Lakers’ run to the continental title.
The award added another chapter to her growing reputation in Kenyan hockey, having earlier been recognized as the KHU Women’s Premier League Most Promising Player in 2019.
Maureen equally describes the continental triumph as one of the proudest moments of their careers.
“We were representing not just our club but also Kenya against top African clubs. It was a proud moment for us after all the hard work, sacrifices and challenges we’ve gone through as players.”
Their rise at club level has mirrored their steady growth within the national team setup.
Over the past seven years, both twins have become regular figures in the Kenya women’s national hockey team, competing against some of the continent’s strongest nations.
International hockey, they say, has shaped them beyond the sport itself.
“Competing internationally teaches you discipline, patience and mental toughness because you face different styles of play and high-pressure situations,” says Alice.
“It has also helped us grow personally by teaching us responsibility, teamwork and how to carry ourselves as ambassadors of Kenya.”
.jpg)
For Maureen, wearing the national jersey continues to serve as motivation.
“Playing in big tournaments against experienced international players has improved my confidence, discipline and mentality,” she says. “Off the pitch, it has taught me patience, responsibility and the importance of staying humble no matter how far you go.”
Despite their growing success, the twins remain deeply aware of where they started.
Coming from a school outside Nairobi, they understand the perception many young athletes from rural and regional schools face, that opportunities are limited compared to players from bigger urban institutions.
Their own journey now serves as proof that talent can emerge from anywhere.
“Our message to young girls, especially those from schools outside Nairobi, is that your background should never limit your dreams,” says Alice.
“We also started from a school outside the city, but through hard work, discipline and consistency, we managed to reach the national level.”
Maureen hopes their story inspires the next generation to stay patient and committed.
“Stay focused, work hard and never give up on your dreams because hockey can open many doors.”
As Kenyan women’s hockey continues to grow, stories like that of Maureen and Alice Owiti reflect the importance of school sports, grassroots development and regional clubs in shaping the future of the game.
For the Owiti twins, however, the journey has always been about more than hockey alone.
It is about carrying each other through every challenge, sharing every milestone and proving that some sporting journeys are strongest when walked side by side.