Murugi Ilishika Vibaya: Aquadel Pool Tournament That Flipped Makutano Upside Down
Ladies and gentlemen,
Today, allow me to take a break from my usual sermons and sorrows. No complaints, no blame games, and definitely no advice to anyone owing Fuliza.
Today, we celebrate.
Because this past Saturday, Makutano and its neighbouring areas witnessed something so smooth, so well-planned, so enjoyable — even Murugi’s Base couldn't believe it.
This was the second edition of the Aquadel Pool Tournament, and yes, my friends, this one was different. Very different.
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How We Got Here — A Fortnight Ago, in the Backstreets
Now, if you’ve been following me (and I know most of you do, even silently), you remember I recently wrote about a man called Bloko, the CEO of Aquadel Drinking Water.
Back then, we were just at our humble base in Mikocheni — same pool table, same squad, same arguments about who plays next. Then Bloko showed up, saw potential, and said, “Let’s take this to the next level.”
He didn’t give motivational quotes and walk away.
He organized.
He delivered.
And this weekend? He over-delivered.
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2:39PM – I Thought I Was Early
Being a responsible man (journalist by profession, disciplined by nature), I showed up at 2:39PM sharp.
I expected to find an empty base and players still adjusting their cue chalk.
But what did I find?
Watu wangu wa Mikocheni already eating practice like biscuits.
Serious faces. Quick breaks. Sharp focus.
Even boda guys were warming up like national team players.
The place felt like a military camp preparing for a national mission.
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Msafu the Hero – Bus Like No Other
And then came Msafu — a quiet man but a man of big moves.
He didn’t show up with vibes.
He showed up with a whole bus.
Yes. A full transport solution to take the Mikocheni squad to Murugi’s Base.
And how did the team board?
Like Chelsea players heading for Club World Cup —
Shoulders high, cameras rolling, people waving, and confidence overflowing.
Even those who came last-minute were suddenly stars.
Msafu’s bus that picked Makutano Aka Mikocheni Crew. Photo/Felix Kinyua.
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Murugi’s Base – The Arena That Deserves a Netflix Series
Now, let me describe Murugi’s Base for those who missed.
This wasn’t a vibanda or a smoky chang’aa spot.
This was an indoor arena.
Clean, organized, and welcoming.
The pool table looked like it had dreams of its own.
And Murugi herself?
Let’s talk.
I tried getting a comment. Pressed her like I was interviewing a politician with CDF questions.
But Murugi was camera shy.
She ducked every attempt.
Still — the twinkle in her eyes and that half-smile told us everything:
She was happy. She was proud. And she was making sales.
Her kitchen was hot. The drinks were flowing. Mpesa till was tired.
She may not have spoken to the media, but business was booming.
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3PM – Aquadel Crew Pulls Up
At exactly 3PM, Bloko and his Aquadel crew arrived.
No noise, no confusion.
Just coordination. Just order. Just seriousness.
They came with presence. With banners. With water.
Everything was sharp — the kind of sharp that says, “We’re not here for attention. We’re here to make impact.”
Aquadel ornanizer awards one of the winners at the event. Photo/Felix Kinyua.
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Referee of the Day? Not Just Anybody
And now, to my favourite plot twist — the referee.
Forget that one cousin who usually referees and always favors his friend.
This tournament had Dr. Alfred Murangiri—
A whole certified doctor overseeing a pool tournament.
He stood firm. Decisions clean. Foul calls respected.
With Doc on duty, even the most stubborn players behaved like patients.
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5PM – The Lights Were On, and the Vibe Was Real
By 5PM, Murugi’s Base was full.
By 5:15PM, it was full full.
Standing room only.
No breathing space.
People clapped, shouted, took videos. Others just stood in silence watching beauty unfold in cue motion.
And then the games began.
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And Yes… Politicians Were There Too
Now, let me just say it plainly:
Yes, politicians showed up.
Of course they did. They saw a crowd. They smelled claps. They came.
But me?
I chose peace.
I chose pool.
I chose not to mix politics with clean vibes.
They were acknowledged, yes.
But this day belonged to the players, the fans, and the sponsors.
We weren’t electing anyone — we were pocketing trophies and connecting communities.
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When the Dust Settled: Champions Emerged
Philip Gitonga (aka Gatagu) – The silent assassin.
Never said too much. Let his stick do the talking.
Won every match, every crowd, and left with Ksh 3,500 and bragging rights across Meru.
He whispered to me, “Next one, si kuja kucheka.”
I believe him.
Lawrence Mwenda – Smooth operator. Stayed calm even under pressure.
Took home Ksh 2,000 and played like a man who had seen tougher matches.
Tobias Prime – The crowd cheered loudest when he beat Murugi’s Base captain Lewis Kithinji.
Walked away with Ksh 1,200, and a new fan base.
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The Queens of the Cue – Elsie & Faridah
Two ladies stepped forward.
Not to cheer. Not to pose.
To compete.
Elsie and Faridah played their hearts out and earned Ksh 1,000 each.
In a field dominated by men, they stood tall and confident.
Next tournament, we expect a full ladies' category — thanks to their courage.
Faridah was one of the only two female players that took part in the tournament. Photo/Felix Kinyua.
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Murugi’s Base Was a Vibe… and a Business
Let’s just say — Murugi didn’t need a quote.
Her sales spoke louder than any press statement.
She hosted like a boss. Fed us. Cooled us. Cashed out like Safaricom on Black Friday.
You could feel the pride in her posture.
That quiet “niliamini vijana” kind of satisfaction.
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Keeping It All Together: Collins & Ngoroste
A special shout out to Collins Kinyua and Dennis “Ngoroste” Mutuma.
These two kept order tighter than exam invigilators.
No delays. No mix-ups.
They made sure the event flowed like a well-written blog post (if I may say so myself).
Without them, we’d have been in chaos.
With them, it was smooth.
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'KA Nyumbani' and Meru’s Who’s Who Pulled Up
And then… the crowd changed.
KA Nyumbani, TikTok’s very own Meru queen, showed up.
And just like that —
Waistlines got snatched.
Shirts tucked in.
Guys who hadn’t spoken all day suddenly started practicing English.
She came to support. She came to represent.
And with her came other professionals, creatives, and respected names across Meru social spaces.
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Sponsors Who Didn't Just Sponsor — They Owned It
Now let me pause and appreciate the engine behind this greatness.
Aquadel Drinking Water – The visionaries. The backbone.
They didn't just put money. They led the movement.
Mann Insurance– With Faith Mwongera, who said:
> “This is just the beginning.”
> We believe her.
Thorn Expeditions – They didn’t just support.
They increased the prize money and gave the tournament the prestige it deserved.
These sponsors didn’t just brand — they stood with the youth.
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The Chairman Speaks
As I exited the venue, I had a quick moment with Mr. Alex Muguna, Chairman of Aquadel.
He was calm, collected, and impressed.
He said just one thing:
> “Get ready. First weekend of every month, we’re doing this again.”
Simple. Powerful. Done.
Makutano, clear your calendars.
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Final Thoughts? This Was Bigger Than Pool
What we witnessed on Saturday was not just a tournament.
It was a community event.
A statement.
A message that with the right support, youth don’t need handouts — they need opportunities.
If you were there, you know how it felt.
If you missed?
Watch the clips. See the pictures.
Because some things, even I can’t fully describe — but the camera caught them perfectly.
> 📸 Find the event gallery and videos at the end of this blog. Tag yourself, share the moment, and mark the calendar — because round three is on the way.
And Yes, my blog is small to accommodate everything about today, but this link gives you access to my drive where you can see videos and pictures of the event.
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1RMuRQMA-XIk8pj7yGQGVOCuJbsdK-6Dp
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About the Author
Felix Kinyua is a writer, journalist, and proud son of Makutano with a deep love for community stories that matter. When he’s not behind a notebook or camera, he’s probably somewhere in Mikocheni dodging pool matches and listening to tales that never make the news.
He believes in giving voice to the streets, lifting local heroes, and capturing moments that make people laugh, think, and come together.
Follow his next story — because if it’s happening around you, chances are...
he’s already watching.
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Top tier article 👌
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