Golfer Robert Kaniri with Wanjohi Kangangi, Director Product Planning, Engineering and Supply Chain Division, Isuzu EA/ HANDOUT
Robert Kaniu is confident that even bigger victories lie ahead after a revamped training regime helped him dominate the inaugural Isuzu mu-X Golf Tournament at Muthaiga Golf Club on Saturday.
Playing off a 24 handicap, the former Kenya Cup rugby player carded a massive 50 points to emerge as the overall winner. He attributed the breakthrough to intensive work with his coach, John Gitonga, to fix a mechanical flaw in his game.
“I started golf in 2016 with Thika Sports Club and took it seriously in 2022 after I left rugby," Kaniu said.
"I wanted a sport I could play for a long time. Rugby had run its course for me. Lately, I’ve been practicing three times a week and taking lessons. I had to work on my overall swing because my sway was a bit too much and I needed to correct that. My coach John Gitonga has been very helpful. Each session he points out what needs fixing and the results are now showing.”
Kaniu, who joined Muthaiga in 2019, also praised the event's corporate backing, thanking Isuzu for supporting the tournament and noting that any assistance to the club goes a long way.
The competition was fierce across the other divisions. Don Maina (Handicap 28) claimed the Men’s title with 44 points, while Rose Wachira (Handicap 32) captured the Ladies’ crown with an identical score.
In the Gross category, Rachit Patel recorded an impressive 74 Gross to take top honors. Paul Kyengo (Handicap 17) led the Guest category with 38 points, while Mandela Njonjo (Handicap 25) emerged as the Junior winner after posting 33 points.
Beyond the sporting action, the tournament served as the launch platform for the next phase of the Isuzu mu-X in the Kenyan market following the start of local assembly. This milestone completes Isuzu East Africa’s transition to a fully locally assembled vehicle portfolio.
Wanjohi Kangangi, Isuzu East Africa’s Director of Product Planning, Engineering, and Supply Chain, said the initiative enhances local production capacity while contributing to broader industrial development through technology transfer and job creation.
He added that the company plans to turn the tournament into an annual event and expand it to other regions, including Machakos, Nyeri, and Eldoret, to thank and engage with customers beyond the showroom.
