Kenya Harlequin F.C. head coach Paul Murunga during the interview in Nairobi on September 18, 2024.
When Paul “Pau” Murunga left Kenya Harlequin in May last year after three seasons, many wondered where he would go.
The former Kenya Sevens head coach soon answered the question by signing for Mwamba, Kenya’s first indigenous club.
“Pau" soon realised that conditions at Mwamba, fondly known as “Kulabu”, weren’t conducive.
Kenya Harlequin F.C. head coach Paul Murunga during the interview in Nairobi on September 18, 2024.
The club had been kicked out of their home of 42 years at Nairobi Railways Club in 2020 and after a frantic search, had found a new base at Goan Institute. Even before they settled, they got relegated from the elite Kenya Cup league.
There was also a change at the top of the club’s hierarchy with Edwin Waita taking over from Jason Braganza, who had served from 2022. Meanwhile, head coach Mark Mshila had quit after one season.
“Kulabu'' followers, meanwhile, immediately put pressure on Murunga to make their stay in the second tier Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Championship a “wantam” affair.
Mwamba RFC players during their Kenya Cup league match against Black Blad at RFUEA grounds in Nairobi on March 8, 2025.
Their prayers were answered on Saturday, April 18, Mwamba beat Catholic University of East Africa Monks 41-26 after leading 22-11 at the break, in the Championship semi-final to guarantee a slot in next season's Kenya Cup.
Also claiming a promotion ticket were Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (Cougars) who hammered Homeboyz 40-9 in their semi-final clash.
Mwamba topped the table in the regular season with 45 points from nine wins and two losses while Cougars finished second with 44 points from nine wins, a draw and a loss.
“Conditions were not the best, especially considering that the club had been relegated from the Kenya Cup for the first time after a quarter of a century,” said Murunga. “They had lost players, the remaining players were demotivated with no proper structures of play in place.”
Murunga said that when Waita approached him for the job, there were fears that if Kulabu stayed more than one season in the Championship, things could get worse with little chance of bouncing back.
“That is why there were plans of ‘wantam’ agenda in the Championship to avoid the fate that has befallen Mean Machine, Homeboyz, Western Bulls and USIU, who have failed to return to the Kenya Cup,” said Murunga.
The Mwamba coach said he designed a pre-season programme to improve the players' strength and conditioning in addition to paying attention to their welfare.
“I changed their old structures of play to fix the set-pieces such as lineouts and scrums,” said Murunga.
“The boys were fit and could run the whole session, something that was synonymous with Championship sides. I worked on set-piece play and it made the difference.”
The club management was able to provide meals and transport to players, which improved the numbers in training.
Kenya Harlequin F.C. head coach Paul Murunga during the interview in Nairobi on September 18, 2024.
Moving to Kenya Cup, Murunga said he doesn’t want to buy finished products but would rather mould the young players who have delivered the club to the elite league.
“I will stick to the three pillars of conditioning, set-pieces and player welfare,” said Murunga.
And as the sevens season approaches, Murunga has a warning for all rivals.
"I am the king of sevens, as you know, and Mwamba must regain its sevens’ status."
Murunga would know what he is talking about. He guided Quins to their first National Sevens Series title in 15 years in 2024.
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