Story of Elvis Rupia: Kenyan Striker Who Broke a 47-Year-Old Goal Record

AFC Leopards are interested in reuniting with former striker Elvis Rupia, a move that could bring one of Kenya’s most prolific forwards back to the club where he enjoyed some of the finest moments of his career.

The forward recently held talks with representatives of Ingwe concerning a possible return, where he had his prolific scoring record wearing the blue and white colors.

AFC Leopards may have competition for the signature of the attacker.

Unconfirmed sources report that Kenya Police FC is also very interested in signing the former striker for their ranks.

Rupia’s appeal to both Kenyan clubs is no surprise, given the wealth of experience and talent that the forward has exhibited throughout his career.

As of now, the 31-year-old represents Singida Black Stars in the Tanzanian Premier League and is also part of the squad that takes on the mantle of representing the nation of Kenya internationally.

From Grassroots Football in Nakuru to Big Stadia

Elvis Baranga Rupia was born on April 12, 1995, in Nakuru, where he was introduced to football at a young age.

The football star stands at 1.76 metres (5 feet 9 inches) and got interested in football through community football games in Nakuru.

His initial exposure to football included venues like Afraha Stadium and the popular Kamukunji playgrounds.

Nakuru AllStars was his first football training facility, after which he advanced into senior football.

Also Read: Dennis Oliech: Rise, Sacrifices and Fall of a Kenyan Football Star

Ascent through Kenyan Soccer

Rupia’s senior career began at Muhoroni Youth FC in 2015 when he played five games.

Despite not having a lot of initial involvement with the club, he got acquainted with first-class football.

Rupia’s big break came at Nzoia Sugar, where he featured from 2017 to 2018.

Here, he played in 42 games and scored 17 goals.

In doing so, Rupia quickly earned himself a reputation for being among the best strikers in the league.

By April 2018, he had scored 9 goals and led the Golden Boot race.

He would go on to score his 12th goal in the same season in a game against Wazito FC with a scoreline of 3-0.

By the end of the 2018 season, he had scored 15 goals and had earned the name “goal-machine.”

His exceptional performances caught the attention of scouts outside of Kenya.

Foreign Adrenaline and AFC Leopards Brilliance

Rupia got an opportunity to play for one of the best clubs in Zambia, Power Dynamos, in July 2018.

Some of his achievements with the club include an equalizer against the opposition Nkana FC, which allowed him to familiarize himself with the nuances of regional football.

The player returned home in 2019 to play for Wazito FC and moved to his new club, AFC Leopards, in January 2020.

Rupia performed brilliantly at AFC Leopards during the 2020-21 season and was ranked as one of the most influential players, netting 17 goals.

One of the notable performances by the striker included a hat-trick against his rivals, Sofapaka.

With the impressive performance, AFC Leopards temporarily topped the league rankings.

This outstanding streak also earned him the title of FKF Premier League Player of the Month for scoring six goals in four matches.

The performance led him to be scouted by teams from other countries, with Rupia moving to Al Bisha of Saudi Arabia in September 2021.

He played for Al Bisha during the 2021-22 season, featuring in 21 games while scoring once.

Breaking Records at Kenya Police FC

On his return from the international team, Rupia joined Kenya Police FC and had his best-ever season playing for the club.

The midfielder scored 27 goals in the 2022-23 FKF Premier League season, earning him the Golden Boot award and setting a new record in the league after 47 years since Maurice Ochieng scored 26 goals in 1976.

The 27 goals secured Kenya Police FC a third-place finish in the league.

Also Read: Football Stars Set to Miss 2026 World Cup

Rupia Transfer to Tanzania and His Role in the National Team

In 2023, Rupia transferred to Tanzania and played with Singida Big Stars; he then played with Singida Black Stars.

From his arrival at the club, he has continued being a vital attacking threat and enabled Singida Big Stars to reach the 2025-26 CAF Confederation Cup.

In international football, Rupia received his senior debut with Harambee Stars in 2020.

He debuted for his country on March 13, 2021, during a friendly game against South Sudan held at Nyayo National Stadium.

The striker celebrated his debut in style, scoring the winning goal in a 1-0 win following his finishing of a cross from Danson Chetambe at the 77th minute.

After this performance, he appeared against Tanzania and rejoined the team in 2023, giving him a record of three caps, one goal, and 148 minutes of international football.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for instant news updates

AFC Leopards players celebrates after scoring a goal at Nyayo Stadium in a past KPL debut. PHOTO/ file