Mwamba RFC renew Kenya Cup return ambition as 2025/26 KRU Championship resumes

After a month-long break, the 2025/26 Kenya Rugby Union (KRU) Championship returns on Saturday, 10 January, with six mouth-watering fixtures lined up across the country as clubs resume their push for promotion and playoff places.

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Former Kenya Cup side Mwamba RFC are among the teams back in action, with their sights firmly set on a return to the top tier.

The Paul Murunga-coached outfit has enjoyed a solid start to the campaign, registering two wins from their opening three matches to sit second on the standings with 11 points.

Mwamba are currently four points behind log leaders Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA) Monks, and will be keen to close the gap as the season enters a decisive phase.

Their immediate test comes away from home against United States International University (USIU) Martials at the USIU-A Grounds.

Speaking ahead of the restart, Murunga said the New Year presents a crucial opportunity for his side to build momentum as the championship schedule intensifies.

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“Another New Year. Last year, we played a few games, and this year we are preparing for a long stretch with several games in January and February heading into knockouts and hopefully playing and getting back to Kenya Cup,” the gaffer said.

The former Kenya 7s tactician expressed satisfaction with his squad’s early preparations, noting strong attendance in training despite the challenges that often come with the post-holiday period.

“The camp looks nice. This is our third training session, and players have turned up well, though we still have some who have not turned up yet, but we have numbers,” he added.

For Murunga, Mwamba’s upcoming fixtures against USIU away and Mombasa RFC at home are viewed as pivotal in shaping their season.

“These two games are crucial. It’s good for us to start on a high to make sure that we’re able to win, so that we can set the pace for the rest of the games and the rest of the season,” he explained.

The coach also highlighted the unique challenges of managing a squad largely made up of students, particularly during school holidays.

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“I have coached several clubs, and most guys go for Christmas break and struggle to come back in the new year. For those in schools and colleges, if the institutions are not yet open, parents still hold them at home,” he said, noting that parental priorities often outweigh rugby commitments.

Despite the hurdles, Murunga is encouraged by his players’ fitness and mindset heading into the weekend. However, Mwamba will be without one of their key leaders, as core captain Eugene Ojiambo is unavailable due to national team duties.

©Tabby Nashipae

In other venues, several intriguing encounters will heat up as teams jostle for position on the log.

2025/26 KRU Championship MD4 fixtures:

JKUAT Cougars vs NYS Spades – JKUAT Main Campus

Homeboyz RFC vs Zetech Oaks – TBC

Mean Machine vs CUEA Monks – UON Pavilion Grounds

Mombasa RFC vs SC Pirates – Mombasa Sports Club

USIU Martials vs Mwamba RFC – USIU-A Grounds

Western Bulls vs Kisii RFC – Bull Ring