Kenyan Cricket Legend Obuya Retires After 23-Year International Career
Kenyan cricket stalwart, Obuya, aged 42, announced his retirement following his participation in the African Games. Despite a 106-run defeat against Uganda in the third-place play-off, Obuya remained a consistent performer, leading Kenya’s run tally in the tournament with 184 runs from five innings.
“I have decided to retire from the game after 23 years. It’s been a big honour playing for Kenya,” Obuya expressed post-match. “I want to thank everyone, my teammates and my family who have been there for me in good times and hard times. It has been a lovely career for me, to have been able to play that long. I am very proud of my career, but it’s time to concentrate on my coaching back home and do what good I can for cricket.”
Obuya, who was known for his batting prowess in the later stages of his career, was also a formidable leg-spinner in his early days. His bowling skills were on full display during the 2003 Cricket World Cup, where he took 5/24, leading Kenya to a surprise victory over the much-favoured Sri Lanka team.
This victory was instrumental in Kenya reaching the Super Six stage of the tournament, and eventually the semi-finals, marking them as the only non-Test playing nation to have achieved this feat.
Obuya’s most notable ODI performance was an unbeaten 98 against Australia in the 2011 World Cup, which, despite being a standout innings, ended in a loss for Kenya. Post the disappointing 2011 World Cup campaign, Obuya took over the captaincy from Jimmy Kamande, only to resign in 2013 following Kenya’s failure to qualify for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2014.
Obuya, with 2044 ODI runs, is one of only four Kenyan players to have scored over 2000 runs in the format before Kenya lost its ODI status. His 1794 T20I runs are the highest by any Kenyan batter, and he also boasts 60 international wickets.
Obuya’s cricketing legacy is shared with his brothers Kennedy Obuya and David Obuya, who also represented Kenya at the international level.