KCB's Brian Wahinya with ball is tackled by Bryceson Adaka of Kabras as Sheldon Kahi looks on during the Kenya Cup final held in Kakamega/HANDOUTDefending champions Kabras Sugar will face their fierce rivals KCB in a blockbuster opening match of the 2026–2027 Kenya Cup season in November.
In a shift from previous years where the top two sides met at the tail end of the campaign, the heavyweights will square off right away at the Kakamega Showground.
The bankers carry a score to settle after suffering a painful 14-8 defeat to the sugarmillers in the 2026 Kenya Cup final at the same venue, where they squandered an 8-6 lead in the final quarter.
That loss marked just the latest setback for the Ruaraka-based outfit, who are winless against Kabras since a 28-20 victory at the Lion's Den in February 2022.
Carlos Katywa’s charges remain unbeaten in 22 consecutive meetings against KCB across the Kenya Cup and the Enterprise Cup. Overall, Kabras boast a staggering 55-match unbeaten run across both competitions, having claimed five consecutive league titles and six straight Enterprise Cup crowns.
Kenya Rugby Union Director of Fixtures Leslie Mwangale explained that the scheduling change aims to captivate supporters from the outset.
“We are starting the league with a bang. The top two teams meeting on the first match day will create excitement and set the tone for the remainder of the season as we look to have an improved turnout of fans for our league matches,” Mwangale said.
Mwangale also noted that the union is actively securing commercial backing for the upcoming campaign.
“We are looking for both [a broadcast partner and a league sponsor] as we try and leverage the product, and in due course we will announce the sponsors,” he added.
Opening day features several other compelling fixtures: Menengai Oilers take on Daystar Falcons, second-tier champions Mwamba face Blak Blad, JKUAT Cougars battle Nakuru RFC, former champions Harlequins meet Strathmore Leos, and Impala square off against neighbors Nondies.
Looking ahead, the Kenya Cup playoffs are scheduled for April 10, followed by the semifinals a week later, with the grand final set for May 1.
Meanwhile, the Enterprise Cup will run alongside the league for the third consecutive year, kicking off on December 12 with the round of 16. The quarterfinals are slated for February 13, leading up to the cross-country quarterfinals between Kenyan and Ugandan sides on March 20.
