"As a mzungu [loosely translated as 'white man'] I was seen as a neutral who could work with the largely Indian board and African players.
"Basically the players weren't getting the greatest of advice. There are lots of issues here based on tribal loyalty. You respect what your elders tell you out of blind faith. Now I think we've reached a solution where the players can decide what's best for them. Negotiations have since been signed off.
"I now have a full complement of 18 contracted players who live well by African standards; they're probably in the top half of earners in the country. A physio and a fitness trainer are also included."
Fortunately the 37-year-old has coached plenty of cricket in addition to his peacemaker cameo. Kenya failed to win a game at this year's World Cup so he has free rein. The team has already toured the Netherlands, Namibia and Zimbabwe with the ICC and Kenyan board's backing. They have hosted the Andhra Pradesh state side from India and players have been involved in the new East Africa Cup. Kenya will host academy-type sides from India and Pakistan in the New Year before playing the World T20 qualifiers in Dubai and Ireland in the Intercontinental Cup.
Hesson's immediate focus is to attend the World T20 in Sri Lanka with two spots still available in September's main draw.
"My aim is to get these guys playing as much cricket as possible.
"I've just got back from Namibia and Zimbabwe where we played 15 games in 20 days. The guys were knackered by the end but unless they play games against better teams they won't learn because the standard of Kenyan club cricket is poor."
Hesson says he's been met with a mix of pleasant and awkward surprise: "The pool of players is small but there is talent and most are keen to train. We also have a prayer before and after games to cater for the various religions in the team.
"Cricket-wise they can be tactically naive and technically the batsmen are a bit limited apart from a couple who would make outstanding first-class cricketers anywhere. Those include rising star Rakep Patel, Tanmay Mishra and my new captain Collins Obuya who made an unbeaten 98 against Australia at the World Cup.
"One concern is the batsmen play with fear. They're afraid of getting out. I thought they'd have more flair. The bowling is another area to work on. They can bowl quite quick but I was surprised some guys who have played over 50 one-day games for their country didn't know how to swing the ball.
"Most of the team are great athletes, as you might expect of Kenyans given their track and field background. For instance one day in Zimbabwe we spent an hour doing 100m sprints for fitness. Most of the team were unbelievable; genuinely fast and seemingly unable to tire.
As he looks ahead, Hesson also hasn't lost any of his cunning that took Otago to one-day and T20 national championships over six seasons.
"We'll play the Intercontinental Cup match against Ireland in [seaside] Mombasa. They'll be coming out of winter in February to face a humid 40 degrees; that's around 10 degrees hotter than 5500 feet up in Nairobi."
Home life has taken on a different slant from suburban Dunedin. The family now lives in a gated community apartment (Hesson politely describes their initial dwelling as "not having a lot of outdoor living") that provides security for him, his wife Kate and their two daughters Holly (4) and Charlie (1) given the recent tourist kidnappings in Kenya by the al Qaeda-linked al Shabaab terrorist group who are based in neighbouring Somalia.
The Hessons are quickly immersing themselves in local culture, too. Holly is learning Swahili at school and the housekeeper is getting the family au fait with the local cuisine.
