Kenya Sevens ace planning to transition to farming after retirement
Reading Time: 4min | Thu. 28.05.26. | 20:33
The former Bungoma High School student has enjoyed a rapid rise in Kenyan rugby since breaking into the national setup
For many professional athletes, retirement often marks the beginning of a search for a new purpose beyond the game.
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While some transition into coaching, punditry, or business, Kenya Sevens centre Dennis Abukuse already has a clear picture of life after rugby, with agriculture firmly at the centre of his plans.
In a sit-down with Mozzart Sport, the Shujaa star revealed that once he hangs up his boots, he intends to venture fully into farming.
For Abukuse, farming is a passion rooted in his family background and one he believes offers stability beyond the unpredictable world of sport.
“My parents were farmers, so I’m simply following in their footsteps,” Abukuse shared.
He believes farming rewards hard work and discipline, values he says mirror the demands of professional rugby.
“Farming will never let you down unless you let yourself down. Making money is not easy; you have to put in the effort. Life in camp and life on the farm are quite similar because both demand a lot from you,” he offered.
Away from the rugby pitch, Abukuse has already started laying the groundwork for his future. He is quick to acknowledge that every sporting career has an expiry date.
“Off the pitch, I’m trying to secure my future because rugby has a limited lifespan. Time eventually catches up with you, and one day you have to hang up your boots. You have to think about life after rugby,” he explained.
And he is already taking measures to achieve his post-rugby dreams.
“I’m planning to take agriculture courses and then venture into it fully once I retire,” he averred.
While many former players naturally gravitate toward coaching after retirement, Abukuse believes the path may become increasingly crowded.
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“I might consider coaching later on. Almost everyone is getting into coaching, and eventually, there could be too many coaches, making opportunities harder to come by. But if the chance comes, I’ll take it,” he said.
His love for farming has also created a bond with teammate Floyd Wabwire, whom he says shares the same passion.
“If I could take one teammate to my farm, it would be Floyd Wabwire. He’s very much like me because we’ve both ventured into agriculture, and we support each other. When he has a shortage, I help him, and when I need something, I turn to him,” he added.
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Abukuse also linked agriculture to environmental conservation through his collaboration with his teammate Kevin Wekesa, who runs the Play Green program. The duo stress the importance of proper waste management.
“When you talk about plastics, you are already talking about pollution, and agriculture does not thrive in polluted environments.
That is why people are advised to properly dispose of or manage polythene bags after use because when they end up on farms, they damage the land and affect productivity, leading to lower yields,” he explained.
The former Bungoma High School student has enjoyed a rapid rise in Kenyan rugby since breaking into the national setup.
Abukuse earned his maiden Kenya Sevens call-up under former head coach Damian McGrath for the 2022 Hong Kong Sevens before making his competitive debut at the Dubai Sevens later that year.
His invitation came after a stellar campaign with Menengai Oilers during the 2022 National Sevens Circuit, where he played a major role in guiding the side to the title.
Abukuse immediately announced himself on the international stage, scoring a stunning try against South Africa during his debut tournament in Dubai, a moment that ranked among the competition’s top seven tries.
Since then, he has become a key figure in the Shujaa setup. He represented Kenya at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games and finished the 2024 local circuit as the top try scorer with 32 tries.
He was also part of the squad that helped Kenya regain its place in the HSBC SVNS, and despite subsequent changes to the tournament structure, he continues to be one of the team’s important players.
For now, Abukuse remains focused on rugby duties and is expected to be among the players in action during the second leg of the HSBC SVNS World Championship in Valladolid, Spain, from Friday 29, to Sunday, May 31.