KCB Rugby were crowned the Embu Sevens champions on Sunday evening after edging out Kabras Sugar 12-10 in a nerve-wracking final of the 2026 Kenya National Sevens Circuit at Moi Stadium.
KCB started the final brightly and drew first blood through Vincent Onyala, who crossed the line to hand the Bankers an early advantage. Austin Sikutwa successfully added the conversion to give KCB a 7-0 lead.
Kabras, however, responded before the half-time break through Michael Lukusi, whose try brought the Sugarmen back into the contest. The conversion was unsuccessful, leaving KCB with a narrow 7-5 advantage at the interval.
The second half produced even more drama as both teams battled for control of the match. Emmanuel Opondo extended KCB’s lead when he crossed over for a crucial try, pushing the score to 12-5 and giving the Bankers some breathing room.
But Kabras refused to go away. Griffin Chao scored to reduce the deficit to just two points at 12-10, setting up a tense finish. Rayvon Ambale had the opportunity to put Kabras ahead with the conversion but narrowly missed, ensuring KCB maintained their slender lead.
With the clock winding down and Kabras searching desperately for the winning score, Opondo produced what proved to be one of the defining moments of the final. The KCB player made a crucial tackle to deny Kevin Wekesa a clear try-scoring opportunity as the Kabras attacker attempted to break through the defence.
“Kabras are a very good team, and we knew the final was always going to be a difficult contest. I am proud of the way the boys fought for every ball and remained composed under pressure. We had moments where we could have made the game more comfortable, but the most important thing is that the players showed character and found a way to win,” noted KCB Rugby Head Coach Andrew Amonde.
KCB had booked their place in the final after a hard-fought 15-12 victory over Daystar Falcons in the semi-finals. Earlier, the Bankers had comfortably dispatched Kenya Harlequin 12-0 in the quarter-finals to underline their strong form heading into the business end of the tournament.
“We are happy to remain at the top of the standings, but the job is not yet done. There is still one more tournament to play, and we know that we must remain focused and continue working hard. Our ambition is to finish the circuit strongly and retain our title,” said Samuel Asati.
The Embu 7s triumph leaves the Bankers firmly at the top of the National Sevens Circuit standings with 98 points as attention now shifts to the final leg of the season.
KCB will head to Nairobi for the Christie Sevens, scheduled for September 11 and 12 at the RFUEA Grounds, where they will be seeking another strong performance as they push to successfully defend their National Sevens Circuit crown.
2026 Kenya National Sevens Circuit standings
KCB Rugby have tightened their hold on the 2026 National 7s Circuit title race, extending their lead at the top of the standings to six points with one leg remaining.
The Bankers have amassed 98 points from the five legs played so far, with Kabras Sugar in second place on 92 points.
KCB’s consistent campaign has seen them collect 22 points at both Prinsloo and Kabeberi, followed by 13 at Dala, 19 at Driftwood, and a further 22 at Embu.
Kabras, by contrast, have earned 19 points from Prinsloo, 22 at Dala, 10 at Kabeberi, 22 at Driftwood, and 19 at Embu.
The two teams have dominated the circuit this season, with their rivalry leading to several high-stakes encounters. KCB have secured two victories over Kabras this season, although Kabras recently ended KCB’s nine-match unbeaten run against them at the Driftwood 7s.
Heading into the final tournament, KCB hold a six-point advantage. However, Kabras remain firmly in contention for the overall title, requiring a third-place finish in Christie or an early elimination for KCB RFC to retain the National title.
Menengai Oilers are currently third on 75 points, followed by Daystar Falcons on 67 and Kenya Harlequin on 64.
The final leg will therefore determine the 2026 National 7s Circuit champion, with KCB aiming to maintain their lead and Kabras striving to overcome the six-point deficit at the final hurdle.
