Former KCB Rugby fly-half Esau Otieno opens up on life post unexpected retirement

Two years after stepping away from the game, former KCB Rugby flyhalf Esau Otieno speaks with a clarity that suggests he made peace with retirement long before the final whistle ever blew.

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“This is my second year away from playing rugby,” he says. “I made the decision and trusted it.”

Otieno officially retired at the start of the 2024/25 season, though his final appearance came earlier than expected. A match against Kabras Sugar RFC would unknowingly mark the end of his playing career.

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An injury sustained in that game kept him out for close to four months, and when he finally returned, the answer was already clear.

“I didn’t even get to play my last match. When I came back, I decided it was time to retire,” he told Mozzart Sport.

There was no dramatic send-off, no ceremonial goodbye; just a quiet, deliberate choice by a player who had given the game more than a decade of his life.

Throughout his career with KCB Rugby, Otieno built a reputation as a dependable game manager and someone teammates trusted when matches hung in the balance.

One game, however, continues to stand above the rest.

“My best game was against Kabras RFC in 2021 at Nandi Bears. At halftime, we felt like we didn’t have it.

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But in the second half, something special happened, and we turned it around to win. It was an incredible comeback,” he smiled as he recalled.

Otieno’s time at KCB coincided with one of the club’s most successful periods.

Between 2014 and 2023, he won eight Impala Floodlit Tournament titles, three National Sevens Circuit crowns, including an extraordinary unbeaten 2013 season where KCB went 32 matches unbeaten, and four Kenya Cup titles.

He remains among the last group of KCB players to lift the Kenya Cup, a trophy the club has not reclaimed since 2021.

Retirement did not mean detachment. Instead, Otieno found purpose in transition.

“I ventured into coaching because I’m a sporty person and I wanted to give back everything I learned over the years,” he said with pride.

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He chose to begin his coaching journey with the Northern Suburbs ladies’ team, a deliberate decision that aligned with his values and long-term vision. Training at the KCB Sports Club, a familiar ground from his playing days, made the transition feel natural.

“I want to be a hands-on coach. Someone my players can rely on, trust, listen to, and who delivers results,” he said.

For Otieno, the coaching journey has been rewarding. Progress is steady, lessons are being absorbed, and the future feels promising.

Alongside rugby, Otieno also works as a strength and conditioning coach for the KCB Volleyball team, further extending his impact across sports.

Unlike many former players, Otieno does not romanticise the past. He does not miss playing, and he says that without hesitation.

“I don’t miss playing at all. Life after rugby is good, and we shouldn’t be afraid of retirement. As long as you give back, you’ll be okay,” he said.

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Away from sport, he has embraced a diversified lifestyle. He makes and sells peanut butter, trades in shoes, and works as an Uber driver.