KCB Rugby Club have cemented their dominance of the national sevens circuit after winning a record fifth consecutive Kabeberi Sevens title, edging Strathmore Leos 14-12 in a thrilling final at the RFUEA Grounds in Nairobi on Sunday, 16 August 2026.
The victory marked the Bankers’ seventh overall Kabeberi 7s title in the tournament’s 37th edition and underlined their consistency as the 2026 National Sevens Circuit gathers momentum.
KCB entered the third leg of the circuit determined to defend their crown and delivered a composed performance throughout the knockout stages. The Bankers began their march to the final with a hard-fought 10-7 quarter-final victory over Kenyatta University’s Blak Blad before producing a commanding 26-7 win over Kenya Harlequin in the semi-final.
In the final, KCB made a blistering start. Brian Wahinya collected possession from a ruck on the right wing before offloading to George Ooro, who powered through to score under the posts. Wahinya added the conversion to give the Bankers a 7–0 lead.
KCB quickly doubled their advantage after Vincent Onyala created space on the right and offloaded to Michael Wekesa, who crossed the line to make it 12-0. Wahinya again converted.
Strathmore Leos responded strongly, with Gabriel Ayimba finding space on the right wing and powering through the KCB defence to reduce the deficit. Arnold Muita added the conversion to make it 12–7.
Just before the break, Victor Mola picked out Ayimba on the right flank, with the Shujaa international beating his markers to score his second try of the match. The conversion was missed, leaving KCB with a narrow 12–12 scoreline at the interval.
The second half developed into a tense battle, with both sides trading attacks. KCB, however, showed remarkable defensive discipline, absorbing sustained pressure from the Leos and holding their nerve to preserve their slender advantage and secure the title.
KCB head coach Andrew Amonde said: “It was a tough final and Strathmore really pushed us, but the boys showed character. We spoke about staying disciplined and trusting our defence, and that is what ultimately won us the game. Winning five titles in a row is a big achievement, but we know there is still more work to do,” Amonde said.
Kenya Sevens international Vincent Onyala also hailed the team’s collective effort, noting that the players remained committed to the game plan even when the final became increasingly tight.
“We knew Strathmore would come at us strongly, especially in the second half. We had to stay calm, defend together and believe in each other. It was not an easy game, but we dug deep and got the result we wanted,” Onyala said.
The fourth leg of the 2026 National 7s Circuit will be held in Mombasa on August 22 and 23 at the Mombasa Sports Club, where KCB will seek to build on their impressive run and maintain their challenge for overall honours.
