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Tributes pour in for Felix Oloo, the coach who shaped women’s rugby in Kenya
Felix Oloo, then Kenya Rugby 7s Lionesses coach, during a training session on October 4, 2019.
The former Kenya Lionesses head coach and Nakuru player, Felix 'Ade' Oloo Otieno, has been celebrated as a transformative figure who helped shape Kenyan women’s rugby.
He died in the United States on Monday after reportedly being hit by a car. He was 41.
Affectionately known as “Mwalimu” in rugby circles, Oloo nurtured and produced rugby players from an informal settlement in Nakuru.
The Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) described Oloo as a highly regarded Kenyan rugby coach and former player who was widely recognised for his contributions to grassroots development and the growth of women’s rugby.
A KRU statement noted that Oloo built a strong reputation both on and off the field through his leadership and commitment to the sport.
He enjoyed a long playing career with Nakuru, spanning 15 years from 2003 to 2017.
Playing as a lock, he was part of the historic Nakuru side that won the Kenya Cup in 2013 and 2014.
This made Nakuru the first club outside Nairobi to win the prestigious Kenya Cup.
Oloo also played for Nakuru when they won the Enterprise Cup in 2008 and 2014. He was also part of the Ndovu Franchise that won the 2013/14 Bamburi Super Series.
“Upon transitioning into coaching, Otieno took up roles at Nakuru Rugby Club where he handled both the men’s and women’s teams, focusing on rebuilding structures and nurturing young talent,” said the statement from the union.
Oloo won the Community Hero Award at the 2016 Sports Personality of the Year (SOYA) awards in recognition of his contribution to the development of grassroots rugby in the informal areas of Nakuru.
The union noted that Otieno’s impact extended to the national stage, where he served as head coach of the Kenya Lionesses Sevens and 15s teams.
The pinnacle of his career came when he guided the Lionesses to qualify for the delayed 2020 Tokyo Olympic Games, which took place in 2021, and led them to victory in the 2019 Elgon Cup against Uganda.
Oloo was appointed as the head coach in Nakuru in 2019, replacing Mitch Ocholla, before relocating to Canada in 2022. He later moved to the USA.
Oloo’s former club, Nakuru, also paid tribute to him, describing him as a dedicated servant of the game.
“Mwalimu was a coach, mentor, and leader whose contribution to Nakuru Rugby and the wider rugby community was immense,” said Nakuru in a statement.
They said that his passion for the sport, commitment to developing players, and unwavering spirit inspired many both on and off the pitch.
“As a club and family, we stand together in mourning and in support of his loved ones during this incredibly difficult time,” the statement read.
According to media reports from Washington, Oloo was hit by a vehicle on Monday at 3am while attempting to cross the 1-405 freeway in Bothell, which resulted in the closure of the northbound lanes for over three hours.
Reports quoting the Washington State Patrol state that a person exited a car that had stopped on the hard shoulder and attempted to cross the interstate, but was struck by another car.
