Michael Kariuki stands tall at 6'5", his broad shoulders and calm authority giving him a natural command of the basketball court.

Though known for being strict, Kariuki is equally respected for his fairness; he calls the game with precision and an unwavering sense of balance.

His deep voice carries across the court, firm but never harsh, reminding players that discipline and respect go hand in hand.

With sharp eyes and a steady presence, Mike ensures every game is played clean, honest, and true to the spirit of basketball.

Michael Kariuki gives a caution when refereeing a game between RVNP and Vikings on November 8,2025.

Photo credit: BRET SANYA/MTAA WANGU

For the last 10 years now, Kariuki has been refereeing and coaching basketball at different levels, from Menengai High School to now being one of the senior referees at the Nakuru Universities and Colleges League (NAKUBALL).

“My love for this game started when I was 13 years old, and ever since, I have always enjoyed playing basketball. When it comes to refereeing, I would say passion is what drew me to it, and that is what has fueled me all through,” he says.

He says that as a referee, you must approach each game with a sober mind while also being open-minded.

“Ordinarily, whenever we have Nakuball games, I always get to the court early, and together with my fellow referees, we get to find out how many games we have and divide them among ourselves. Then we just carry out a brief meeting and pray. That is basically our pre-match ritual,” he says.

He acknowledges that indeed the pressure gets to him, especially when it comes to high-stakes matches.

“Man is to error, and just like in any other sport, mistakes happen. Therefore, while at the court, depending on your fellow referees really goes a long way. In the event you make a mistake, always go and ask them for clarification. With the way the game is changing, we keep learning new things every day, and this helps improve the quality of the game in the long run,” he says.

He admits that sometimes things do get heated on the court between the players and coaches, and there is a lot of backlash from the fans.

“I have been doing this for 10 years now, and in this line of work, you develop a thick skin. I do understand that basketball is an emotional game, and therefore things are bound to get heated at one point or another. Therefore, as a leader, it’s up to you to maintain a cool head and be the one to steer the ship,” he says.

Additionally, “Whenever conflict arises on the court, we take the issue up with the team captains to warn the specific players before escalating it. However, as a referee, I believe in mentoring these young individuals in the game, and therefore, even as I ref, I take the time to teach them the rules of the game on occasions they commit fouls.”

Michael Kariuki shares a light moment with his colleagues at half time during the game between RVNP and Vikings on November 8,2025.

Photo credit: BRET SANYA/MTAA WANGU

We asked Mike about his most memorable match, and he smiled as he remembered last year’s final between Rift Valley National Polytechnic (RVNP) and Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT).

“I remember that game was being played on the RVNP grounds, and the two teams were squaring up in the finals. RVNP were playing on their home turf, and they were actually losing. The crowds started becoming hostile, and in the heat of things, being the referee, all the blame shifted to me,” he says.

“I have to admit I was very scared, and I thought that in the event RVNP lost, we would be attacked by the hostile home crowd. However, I managed to calm the temperatures of the game, and after talking to the team captains of both teams, we were able to calm things down, and the game sailed through perfectly. That was one of my proudest moments,” he says.

Michael, who also doubles as Fixture Secretary for the Nakuball League, says that one of the things he hopes to achieve is to see more young referees and coaches come up.

“Most of the people playing the game at the moment are the youth, and therefore, as a league, we are planning to have clinics and workshops to train these upcoming players to become coaches and referees,” he says.

He concludes by urging the players to love every aspect of the game, be it playing, refereeing, or coaching, as it helps them love and appreciate the sport much more.

Michael Kariuki: How feared, respected, referee holds Nakuball games together!

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Bret Sanya