Growing up in a small, remote village, Kalwande village, in Kenya, Collins’ earliest memories of sport are stitched into the muddy football fields where he played barefoot with friends.
It was in these rain-soaked games that a deep love for competition and discipline began to take shape, long before he would go on to represent Kenya’s largest bank in multiple sports disciplines and lead one of the country’s top women’s volleyball teams.
His sporting journey began in earnest during primary school, where football offered structure and escape. “We did not have much, but football gave us purpose. It kept us grounded,” he recalls.
However, it was during his high school years at Anding’o Opanga Secondary School, between 2005 and 2009, that volleyball entered his life.
The school had a strong volleyball culture, and making the team was no small feat. That experience sparked a new competitive fire in him.
He not only earned a spot on the team but eventually became its captain, learning key leadership and teamwork skills while also maintaining excellent performance in class, that would follow him into adulthood.
After high school, Collins joined Kisii University around September 2010, where his sporting interests expanded. While continuing to play football, he also immersed himself in martial arts, specifically Kenpo Karate.
He captained the university’s martial arts team for three consecutive years (2011–2013), helping them win multiple inter-university championships. The experience sharpened his discipline, mental resilience, and leadership capacity, traits that would later prove crucial in his career.
In 2015, Collins joined KCB, marking a significant turning point in both his professional career and sporting life. Almost immediately, he was drawn into the bank’s vibrant sports culture, representing KCB in football, volleyball, darts, snooker, and checkers. Over time, volleyball emerged as his core discipline, fueled by his high school foundation and KCB’s structured support system.
As his involvement deepened, he gradually took on leadership roles and was eventually appointed Chairman of the KCB Women’s Volleyball Team in 2022 as well as a key member of the KCB Sports & Wellness Committee that runs staff wellness & sports initiatives. As Chairman, Collins has helped drive a culture of excellence, holistic athlete development, and long-term planning.
“We’re building a team that’s not just dominant on the court but empowered in all aspects of life, mentally, financially, spiritually, and professionally,” he explains. Working closely with the team patron, Madam Judith S. Odhiambo, and the broader KCB Volleyball club executives, Collins has been instrumental in elevating the KCB Lionesses’ stature within Kenya and beyond. Under his leadership, the team has continued to flourish in the Kenya Volleyball Federation (KVF) League, with consistent national performances, winning the KVF League trophy twice in a row in 2023 & 2024 and narrowly missing the gold medal this year to finish 3rd in the 2025 KVF league.
This success, Collins says, is the product of structured systems, empowered athletes, motivated coaches, and intentional investment.
“We have a mentorship program that brings in professionals to support players not just in sport but in life, covering everything from financial literacy and mental health to self defense and social awareness.”
Beyond elite competition, Collins has also overseen the establishment of KCB’s grassroots talent pipeline through academy partnerships with schools such as Soweto, Kwathanze, and Kesegon.
The bank supports these institutions with resources, coaching, and mentorship, and standout students are later formally contracted into the KCB system.
“We’re not just recruiting; we’re nurturing talent, transforming lives, and enabling young athletes to earn a decent living through sport. We equally nurture them to extend the transformation agenda to their families & the community at large.”
Balancing his multiple roles as a player, leader, and full-time professional hasn’t been without challenges. But Collins has found rhythm and structure.
“I train smart & efficiently switch to equally give my best in my professional role as a Business analyst. Football requires endurance and adaptability, while volleyball demands sharp bursts of energy. Snooker, Checkers and darts are about focus and calm. I’ve learned to train purposefully and prioritize rest.”
His ability to adapt and lead has become even more critical as KCB prepares for the 2025 Interbank Games, where Collins will represent the bank in volleyball while also steering the team from a leadership position.
“My personal goal is to lead with consistency and inspire through performance. As a team, we’ve been working on tactical sharpness, mental readiness, and physical strength. We’re ready.”
Collins especially looks forward to matches against long-time rivals such as CBK and Co op Bank, which he describes as “high-stakes games that bring out the best in us.” But for him, the goal goes far beyond trophies. “Sport, for me, is a way of life,” he reflects. “It’s about building character, forming lifelong friendships, and empowering others. The real win is in the journey and the lives we touch along the way.”
Throughout his journey, Collins draws strength from several sources. He credits his high school volleyball coach, Mr. Edward Gura, for first seeing potential in him and providing the guidance he needed in his formative years. Today, he finds inspiration in the athletes & professional colleagues he mentors, the young talent in KCB’s academies, and, most deeply, in his family.
“Their support is everything (my family). Whether I’m heading for early training or returning late from tournaments, leading a team meeting or going away for days or weeks for a tournament, they’re always there. Their belief in me is what keeps me going.”
Looking ahead, Collins hopes to be remembered not just as an accomplished athlete but as a builder of systems, structures and people. “I want to leave behind a legacy of empowerment. That I helped athletes grow, inspired others to pursue their dreams, and contributed to a sports culture at KCB that thrives long after me.” To young professionals navigating similar paths, his message is simple but profound: “You don’t have to choose between your career and your passion. With the right support and structure, sport can make you sharper, healthier, and more productive. And when it gets hard, always remember why you started.”
