•Ayimba alifariki siku ya Ijumaa baada ya kuuguza matatizo mengi alipokuwa akipokea matibabu katika hospitali ya The Kenya Hospital
•Raila Odinga na James Orengo ni kati ya Wakenya waliotuma risala za rambirambi.
Aliyekuwa mchezaji na baadaye kocha wa timu ya raga ya kitaifa, Benjamin Ayimba ameiaga dunia.
Akitangaza kifo chake, msemaji wa familia ya Ayimba, Oscar Osir alisema kuwa Ayimba alikata roho baada ya kuuguza matatizo mengi mwili alipokuwa anatibiwa. Ayimba alikuwa akiuguza ugonjwa wa malaria ya ubongo.
“Familia na marafiki wa karibu wangependa kuwashukuru kwa maombi, ushirikiano na msaada wa kifedha mliojitolea katika siku za Benjamin za mwisho” Osir alisema.
Ayimba alianza uchezaji wa kitaalamu na klabu ya Impala mwakani 1995 baada ya kukamilisha masomo yake katika shule ya sekondari ya Maseno. Ayimba aliongoza timu hiyo kushinda kuchukua ushindi wa Kenyan cup na Enterprise Cup mwakani 2000 na 2001.
Mwanaraga huyo pia aliichezea timu ya Kiingereza ijulikanayo kama Cornish Pirates kati ya mwaka 2003 na 2003.
Aliichezea timu ya taifa ya wachezaji saba na wachezaji kumi na tano kati ya mwaka wa 1997 na 2006. Ayimba alishirikishwa kwenye kikundi cha Kenya 7s kilichocheza kombe la dunia la raga mwakani 2001 na 2005 na kwenye michezo ya commonwealth mwakani 1998, 2002 na 2006.
Baada ya kipindi chake cha kucheza kutamatika, Ayimba alijiunga na ukufunzi huku akifanywa kocha mkuu wa Kenya 7s katika ya mwaka wa 2005 na 2011 na tena mwakani 2015-2016.
Akiwa kocha, aliiongoza Kenya 7s hadi kwenye fainali yake ya kwanza ya kombe la kimataifa iliyofanyika Australia
Pia aliongoza timu hiyo kuchukua kombe lake la kwanza la kimataifa dhidi ya Fiji mwakani 2016 nchini Singapore.
Wakimuomboleza aliyekuwa mmoja wao kwa kipindi kirefu, muungano wa raga nchini(KRU) umesema kuwa Ayimba aliandika vitabu za historia,
“Kama mchezaji, alishinda kila kitu kilichokuwa cha kushindwa nchini” KRU walisema.
Wakenya wa tabaka mbalimbali wameendeelea kumuomboleza na kumsifia marehemu ikiwemo watu mashuhuri kama Raila Odinga, James Orengo kati yaw engine. Hizi hapa baadhi ya jumbe za Wakenya.
We have lost a great patriot in Benjamin Ayimba. Prior to taking up coaching he had an illustrious career as a Rugby 15s and 7s international.
— Raila Odinga (@RailaOdinga) May 22, 2021
As coach he led Kenya to their first World Sevens Series title when they beat Fiji at the Singapore Sevens in 2016. pic.twitter.com/a4vMPQUzhN
Benjamin Ayimba was an incredibly special part of rugby in Kenya, he will forever be remembered for his outstanding pace and skill, his strength as a player and coach, and his kind and genuine nature both on and off the field. May his soul rest in peace. pic.twitter.com/2mIAP4Pppz
— James Orengo (@orengo_james) May 22, 2021
Benjamin Ayimba will be remembered for his service to the nation as a player and coach Of the 7s team . Rest In Peace bro . Our condolences to family, friends and the rugby fraternity
— Sen Mutula KilonzoJR (@SenMutula) May 21, 2021
This is hard. Rest in power Benja. 💔 Benjamin Ayimba has died at the Kenya Hospital after a battle with celebral Malaria 💔 pic.twitter.com/Lr8xp8S4li
— Carol Radull (@CarolRadull) May 21, 2021
Benjamin aliaga akiwa na umri wa miaka 44.