Paul Murunga opens up on challenges faced during his Kenya Harlequin stint
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Reading Time: 3min | Wed. 14.05.25. | 13:38
Despite these setbacks, Murunga believes the team made significant progress with the limited support they had
Former Kenya Harlequin head coach Paul Murunga has opened up on the challenges that slowed his ambitions of transforming the club into a rugby powerhouse during his tenure.
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On Thursday, 1 May, the club parted ways with Pau after three years with him at the helm.
During his tenure, the former Kenya Sevens tactician guided the Ngong Road-based club to multiple semi-final appearances and a national title.
Under his stewardship from 2022 to 2025, Quins reached the Kenya Cup semi-finals in 2023 and 2024, and captured the 2024 National Sevens Circuit title after finishing fourth in 2022.
He also spearheaded the establishment of a women’s team and introduced age-grade rugby, while improving player performances.
However, Pau pointed out that while the players were talented and dedicated, the club’s financial muscle disadvantaged them from other teams. For Pau, coaching a community club like Quins came with its challenges.
“Three seasons with a club, considering where I found it, is not easy to win titles, more so without a strong financial base. This is a community club and cannot be compared to corporate sides,” Murunga told Nation Sport.
However, he noted that the lack of funds meant that they constantly lost key players to better-financed clubs and overseas opportunities.
Among the notable player exits during his tenure were Elvis Ochieng, Cornelius Mokoro, and Michael Ochieng (to Romania), Brian Waraba and Meshak Tunechi (to Canada), Felix Makokha and Labaan Kipsang (to KCB), Hillary Baraza (to Blak Blad), Elly Asiko and Evans Kihonyo (to Nondies), and Felix Wanjala (to the United States).
“I had to recruit afresh, but Quins, being a community club, did not have the financial muscle to get top players, hence we focused on those playing in the Championship, Nationwide, and schools.
It was a big struggle. As much as we recruited good talent, it was an uphill task without talent at the top level,” he added.
Despite these setbacks, Murunga believes the team made significant progress with the limited support they had.
“Resources were not enough, and the club was stretched with the little it had. For instance, last season, we participated in the sevens circuit, went to the Impala Floodlights, and then the 15s season.
We had to balance our resources and despite limitations, we managed to reach the Kenya Cup semi-final playoffs last season,” he said.
In his absence, assistant coach Patrice Agunda has been promoted to the head coach position. He will work together with Simon Odongo and Eden Agero to steer the Quins to success. Murunga expressed confidence in the leadership he leaves behind.
“I leave the club in safe hands since Agunda and others who served as my deputies, Simon Odongo and Eden Agero, have risen through the ranks and are capable of steering the club further,” he stated.
Pau boasts a decorated coaching career that spans over a decade and includes both club and national team stints. He began as an assistant coach at Homeboyz Rugby Club between 2009 and 2011 before being elevated to head coach, a role he held until 2018.
During this time, he also worked with various national age-grade sides, coaching Kenya’s Under-20, Under-19, and Under-18 teams from 2012 to 2014.
In 2014, he served as the assistant coach of the Kenya Simbas, the national 15s team, and later took on the role of Kenya Sevens development coach from 2015 to 2016.
Murunga’s leadership earned him the position of head coach of the Kenya Sevens team from 2018 to 2020. In 2022, he took charge of Kenya Harlequin, guiding them through a rebuilding phase until 2025, while also doubling as the Kenya Lionesses head coach from 2023 to 2024.
His qualifications include World Rugby Level II and Level I coaching certifications, match officiating credentials, and strength and conditioning certification. Beyond rugby, he is also a trained Class Three Physics Instructor.
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