Blak Blad Rugby Club have been dealt a major blow ahead of the new season after head coach Bernard Rotich Kibet left the varsity side to join KCB Rugby.
Rotich’s departure brings an end to a 15-year association with Blak Blad and comes on the back of the club’s most successful Kenya Cup campaign to date.Kenyan rugby star makes long-awaited debut in CanadaThe tactician guided Blak Blad to the Kenya Cup playoffs during the 2025/26 season before leading them to their maiden semi-final appearance, marking a historic milestone for the club.
The achievement capped a transformative period under Rotich, who helped establish Blak Blad as a competitive force in the top flight. In a farewell message shared by Blak Blad, Rotich first joined the club as a player, spending about four to five years on the field before eventually returning in a coaching capacity.He took up coaching duties at the club in September 2019 and went on to play a key role in Blak Blad’s rise in the Kenya Cup.
Beyond his contribution to results, Rotich has been credited with developing players and helping shape young men through rugby during his time at the club.Blak Blad acknowledged the difficulty of parting ways with a coach who had served the club for so long, describing him as a great servant whose sacrifices, expertise and presence left a lasting impact.
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“Your legacy won’t vanish into the distance,” the club said in its farewell message.Rotich now begins a new chapter with KCB Rugby, joining one of Kenya’s most established and financially well-backed rugby clubs.
He will be part of KCB’s technical bench skills department, working alongside head coach Andrew Amonde, Dennis Mwanja, Jacob Ojee and other members of the coaching setup.His move to KCB allows him to operate in a high-profile environment while bringing the experience accumulated during his lengthy spell with Blak Blad.