Walkover galore as 2025/26 Enterprise Cup kicks off

The 2025/26 Enterprise Cup is set to get underway on Saturday, 13 December, amid a flurry of walkovers, with financial and logistical challenges forcing several clubs to withdraw before a ball is kicked in the Round of 16.

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Defending champions Kabras Sugar are among the beneficiaries, advancing straight to the quarterfinals after Impala confirmed they would be unable to travel to Kakamega for the scheduled clash.

The development comes just a week after the Sugarmen handed Impala a crushing 123-0 defeat in their final Kenya Cup match of the year.

Menengai Oilers also progressed without taking to the field, following the withdrawal of Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST).

Sources indicate that participation in the knockout tournament had not been factored into the institution’s budget, making travel arrangements untenable.

Elsewhere, Diani-based South Coast Pirates forfeited their tie against Nakuru RFC, citing financial constraints that made the journey to Nakuru impossible.

In another fixture decided off the field, Nondescripts booked their place in the last eight after Kisumu RFC confirmed they would not honor the match, while KCB were handed a walkover following Daystar Falcons’ decision to pull out.

©Tabby Nashipae

Kisumu RFC chairman Dr. Gabriel Ouma admitted that financial pressures had left the club with little choice but to withdraw, a predicament he says is shared by many teams across the country.

“As Kisumu RFC, we always want to honor our fixtures, but sometimes the financial realities are overwhelming. Travelling across the country without adequate sponsorship is extremely costly, and this season we’ve had to prioritize our league commitments. It’s not that we don’t value the Enterprise Cup, but with the resources we currently have, some fixtures become impossible to honor,” Ouma said.

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The wave of withdrawals has raised fresh concerns within the local rugby fraternity, with tightening budgets, limited sponsorship opportunities, and rising travel costs emerging as key factors behind the situation.

The developments have once again reignited debate over the sustainability of knockout competitions staged outside the regular Kenya Cup calendar, particularly for clubs already stretched by league commitments.

Despite the setbacks, the Enterprise Cup will proceed, with only three Round of 16 fixtures set to be decided on the field.

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Kenya Harlequin will face Catholic University of East Africa (CUEA) Monks, Strathmore Leos will take on fellow students Zetech Oaks, while a mouth-watering clash between Blak Blad and Mwamba RFC also headlines the round.

Quarterfinal pairings will be confirmed once the remaining matches are concluded.