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Cementing legacy: History as Kabras joins Nondies and Impala as Kenya Cup greats
10th May, 2026 08:50 AM
Kabras Sugar RFC reinforced their dominance in Kenyan rugby after edging KCB Rugby 14-8 in a tightly contested Kenya Cup final staged at the Kakamega Showground on Saturday, May 9, 2026, sealing a remarkable fifth straight league crown.
The triumph placed Kabras among the elite clubs to achieve five consecutive championships, becoming the first team in over four decades to register such a feat since the achievements of Nondies and Impala.
Their unbeaten streak in the competition also stretched to an impressive 54 matches dating back to 2022.
Wet weather conditions before kickoff left the surface heavy and slippery, creating a challenging afternoon for both teams. Despite the muddy pitch, the match still went ahead as scheduled.
Match report
Both sides approached the contest cautiously in the opening exchanges, struggling to establish control due to the difficult playing conditions. KCB were dealt an early blow when Festus Shiasi was temporarily dismissed for dangerous play involving a raised arm.
Frequent handling mistakes disrupted the rhythm of the game, but KCB eventually opened the scoring after Brian Wahinya opted to take points from a penalty opportunity. His first kick missed the target, though he later redeemed himself by successfully splitting the uprights to give the bankers a 3-0 lead.
Kabras attempted to respond through a scrum attack, but KCB’s disciplined defence denied them any breakthrough. The hosts later introduced Dukisa, Tanga and Wekesa earlier than expected in a bid to change the momentum.
The first half concluded with KCB narrowly ahead after a clearance kick rolled directly into touch.
Kabras suffered another setback shortly after the restart when Jeason Misoga left the field following a head injury. KCB nearly increased their advantage soon after, but Kabras managed to withstand sustained pressure before Ntabeni Dukisa levelled matters with a penalty kick.
Wahinya later missed another chance to extend KCB’s lead, allowing Kabras to remain firmly in the contest. Dukisa continued to make his presence felt in his first appearance of the season, adding another penalty to hand the sugar millers their first lead of the afternoon.
KCB then earned an attacking scrum deep inside Kabras territory after Ephraim Odour was yellow-carded, reducing the hosts to 14 men. The bankers quickly capitalised, with Samuel Asati sparking a move that ended in Festus Shiasi diving over in the corner for a try. However, Wahinya was unable to add the extras.
A subsequent offside offence by KCB handed Dukisa another penalty opportunity, which he converted to cut the gap to a single point.
KCB dominated
KCB’s task became even harder in the closing stages after Elvis Olukusi was sent to the sin bin, leaving the bankers a man down during the decisive moments of the match.
Kabras eventually found the winning score through a powerful rolling maul, with Hillary Odhiambo grounding the ball for the crucial try. Although Dukisa failed to convert, the hosts moved into a 14-8 lead.
The defending champions stayed composed in the dying minutes, resisting late pressure from KCB to secure victory and celebrate another Kenya Cup title in front of their home supporters.
