Kabras clinch Kenya Cup five-peat to equal 42-year record against KCB

When referee Constant Cap blew the final whistle at the ASK Kakamega Showground on Saturday, 9 May, it marked not only the end of the 2025/26 Kenya Cup season but also a historic chapter in Kenyan rugby.

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Kabras RFC etched their name deeper into the record books after edging out arch-rivals KCB Rugby 14-8 in a fiercely contested final to secure an unprecedented fifth straight Kenya Cup title.

The victory made Kabras the first team in 44 years to win five consecutive league crowns, joining the legendary dynasties of Impala RFC and Nondescripts RFC, who achieved similar dominance between the 1970s and early 1980s.

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The triumph further showcased Tang Tang’s remarkable consistency. Kabras have now gone unbeaten in league action since 2022 and are riding a run of more than 50 matches without defeat. Since that loss, only KCB and Menengai Oilers have come close to unsettling the Kakamega-based side.

Their dominance extends beyond the Kenya Cup. Since earning promotion to the top flight, Kabras have never missed a Kenya Cup final and have also lifted the last five Enterprise Cup titles.

Saturday’s showdown was billed as the decider after the two sides played out an inconclusive 10-10 draw in their regular-season clash on Saturday, 7 March, a match abandoned at halftime due to heavy rain.

The final itself was delayed by 30 minutes because of adverse weather, with proceedings beginning on a sombre note as both teams observed a minute’s silence in honour of the late Felix ‘Ade’ Oloo, who passed away earlier in the week following a tragic accident in the USA.

The opening exchanges were tense and scrappy.

KCB looked sharper in the first half, dominating possession and territory while repeatedly camping inside Kabras’ 22. However, the visitors were frustrated by handling errors and a resilient Kabras defensive wall.

After several missed opportunities, KCB eventually broke the deadlock through Brian Wahinya, whose penalty gave the Bankers a narrow 3-0 lead heading into halftime.

The second half saw Kabras emerge with renewed purpose, driven by the tireless work of Eugine Sifuna. Fly-half Ntabeni Dukisa slotted a penalty to level matters before adding another to put the hosts ahead for the first time.

KCB responded through Shiasi, who crossed over for the first try of the match, though Wahinya’s missed conversion left the score at 8-6 in favour of the visitors.

Dukisa’s boot again proved crucial as he drilled over another penalty to restore Kabras’ lead.

Then came the defining moment.

With the pressure mounting, Kabras set up a powerful rolling maul that drove over the line, allowing Hillary Odhiambo to touch down for the hosts’ first try of the match. Dukisa calmly added the extras to stretch the advantage to 14-8.

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KCB pushed desperately in the closing minutes, but Kabras’ defence held firm to seal yet another title and further entrench their dynasty in Kenyan rugby history.