Rotich began his career racing mainly road races from 10k to marathon. Rotich's marathon debut was at the 2011 Kassel Marathon, where he placed 3rd in 2:15:18. In 2014 Rotich won the Strasbourg Half Marathon and the Altötting Half Marathon in Germany. In 2015 he secured his first marathon victory at the San Sebastián Marathon in Spain clocking 2:13:56.
On 17 March, 2019 Rotich ran the Seoul Marathon, where he placed 2nd in 2:06:12, while the race was won by Thomas Kiplagat in 2:06:00.[5] On 31 August he placed 5th at the Semi Marathon in Lille, France in 1:00:42. Rotich then placed 3rd in the Amsterdam Marathon on 20 October in 2:05:18, while his compatriot Vincent Kipchumba won the race in 2:05:09.[6] In 2020 Rotich raced one marathon. On 20 December he placed second at the Taipei Marathon in 2:13:07. The race was won by his compatriot Paul Lonyangata, who set a new course record of 2:09:18.[7][8] In 2021 Elisha placed 10th in the Milan Marathon on 16 May in a time of 2:06:44. Next Rotich raced the Paris Marathon on 17 October where he won the race in a new course record of 2:04:21, breaking Kenenisa Bekele's previous course record of 2:05:04 from 2014. [9][10] On New Year's Eve 2021 in São Paulo Rotich placed 4th at the 96° Corrida Internacional de São Silvestre in 46:26 a personal best.[11]
