KCB Rugby Club will host and compete in the 2026 KCB MET 7s tournament on Saturday, July 4, at the KCB Sports Club in Ruaraka, Nairobi, as Kenyan clubs intensify preparations for the upcoming National Sevens Circuit.

The Kenya Rugby Union (KRU)-sanctioned tournament will feature 16 teams split into four pools. KCB Rugby Club has been drawn in Pool A alongside Homeboyz RFC, Kabete Stallions and JKUAT Cougars, setting up a series of early fixtures that organisers say will test squads ahead of the national circuit.

Pool B includes Daystar Falcons, KU Blakblad, Makueni Ravens and USIU Eagles. Pool C has Catholic Monks, Zetech, NYS and Mean Machine, while Pool D brings together Kenya Harlequins, Mwamba RFC, Stingerz RFC and Northern Suburbs, according to the tournament line-up shared by organisers.

The event comes as corporate-backed sports properties continue to play a visible role in Kenya’s rugby ecosystem, particularly in supporting competitive calendars outside the marquee national circuit and the international sevens programme. For clubs, pre-season and build-up tournaments have become a key avenue to evaluate playing combinations and give match minutes to new signings and youth players under competitive conditions.

Brian Mwita, vice chairperson of KCB Rugby Club, said the tournament is positioned as both a development platform and a competitive test for the club. “The KCB MET 7s represents our commitment to the growth of rugby in Kenya by creating opportunities for players across all levels to compete on one platform,” Mwita said. “As a club, we are excited to once again support this initiative while using it to sharpen our squad ahead of what promises to be a highly competitive National Sevens Circuit.”

Now in its fifth edition, the MET 7s was launched in 2022 through Stingerz Rugby Football Club, with organisers saying its aim was to bridge the gap between grassroots rugby and elite competition. Since its launch, the event has expanded participation among clubs, and organisers said it has drawn recognition from stakeholders including KRU and Rugby Africa.

Collins Nabiswa, the tournament director, linked the competition to player development pathways and said KCB’s involvement has supported delivery of the event. “Our vision has always been to create a sustainable pathway where young players can compete alongside established talent and gain the experience needed to progress to higher levels of the game,” Nabiswa said. “The partnership with KCB Rugby Club has significantly enhanced the tournament's impact, allowing us to deliver an event that not only entertains but also contributes meaningfully to the growth of rugby in Kenya.”

While the organiser statement did not disclose the event’s sponsorship value, KCB said its sports support spans multiple disciplines and includes ownership of teams and sponsorship of events in volleyball, football and rugby, as well as support in chess, athletics and golf.

For Kenya’s sports business landscape, such tournaments create inventory for sponsorship activation, media coverage and fan engagement—particularly in Nairobi, where corporate-hosted venues can reduce event delivery costs and improve the reliability of the match calendar. They also provide a pipeline for talent identification ahead of the National Sevens Circuit, which remains the primary domestic platform feeding elite club performance and, indirectly, national team selections.

Organisers said the tournament will serve as a competitive build-up event, giving coaches a chance to assess combinations, integrate new players and refine tactics ahead of the national series. The next milestone will be the July 4 match day in Ruaraka, after which teams are expected to transition into final preparations for the National Sevens Circuit.

Keean and Kael Shah won the Top Kenya title at the inaugural Carrefour Open Padel Tournament on Sunday, beating Amar Shah and Gaston Castro 7-6 in the final at Networks Padel Village in Nairobi, according to a statement shared with media dated June 9, 2026.

The win closed a four-day tournament hosted by Carrefour Kenya, in partnership with Networks Padel Village. Organisers said the competition attracted more than 250 athletes across divisions that included Top Kenya, Advanced, Mixed, High Intermediate, Intermediate and Open categories, competing for a total prize pool of KES 700,000.

In the women’s final, Khaaliqa Nimji and Seyaana Ladha won after defeating Sharon and Faith, the statement said. Third place in the Top Kenya category was shared between the teams of Maxwell Kombo and Devin Shretta, and Helder Simao and Markel.

The organisers said the Top Kenya champions received KES 100,000 in prize money, while runners-up Amar Shah and Gaston Castro took home KES 40,000. The two third-placed teams each received KES 30,000.

The event adds to a growing calendar of commercial sports activations in Nairobi as retailers and venue operators increasingly partner on tournaments that bring together participation fees, sponsorship and brand visibility. Carrefour Kenya is operated by Majid Al Futtaim, which holds exclusive rights to run the Carrefour brand in Kenya, according to the statement.

Speaking after the final, Keean and Kael Shah said the victory came during their first time playing together as a duo in the tournament setting.

“This was our first time playing together as brothers, and we have to give credit to our opponents for putting up a great fight. In the first set, they had us completely confused, but once we figured out our game, we were able to capitalize,” the pair said in a joint quote provided by organisers.

They added that the match demanded tactical adjustment and mental strength against a familiar pairing.

“It was a very competitive match and a fantastic final. Amar’s left-handed play brings a very different challenge, while Gaston makes you work for every point. In the end, it was as much a mental game as it was physical,” they said.

Organisers said the tournament featured nine categories in total: Top Kenya, Men’s Advanced, Ladies Advanced, Mixed Advanced, Men’s High Intermediate, Men’s Intermediate, Ladies Intermediate, Mixed Intermediate and Open Level 2.0. Participants also competed for gift hampers alongside cash prizes, according to the statement.

Beyond competitive play, the statement said the Carrefour Open included community engagement initiatives such as a youth tournament that introduced younger players to padel and provided mentorship through Networks Padel Village coaches.

For Kenya’s sports and leisure market, the tournament underlines increasing private-sector involvement in niche but fast-growing sports, with dedicated facilities and structured competitions supporting a broader ecosystem that includes coaching, events management, retail partnerships and hospitality spend around venues.

Organisers did not announce dates for a second edition, but said the conclusion of the inaugural event marked a milestone in the sport’s development locally, suggesting further tournament activity could follow as participation grows.

KCB FC will play Tusker FC on Saturday at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium in the FKF Cup semi-final, as the Kenya Premier League side targets a place in the final after falling short in the 2023/2024 title match.

The club said head coach Robert Matano’s squad last reached the FKF Cup final in the 2023/2024 season, losing to Kenya Police on penalties after a goalless draw in regular time. The Nyayo Stadium tie sets up another high-stakes meeting with a domestic rival as KCB looks to convert its recent cup run into silverware.

According to the club’s match preview, KCB opened its knockout campaign with a 1-0 win over Compel FC before advancing with a 4-0 victory over Zetech Titans in the Round of 32. The team then beat Chebaiywa Lions 3-0 in the Round of 16 to reach the quarter-finals. KCB said Richard Omondi scored the decisive goal in the quarter-final to eliminate Nairobi United, a result the club contrasted with its previous season’s exit to the same opponent by a 1-0 scoreline in the Round of 16.

Matano said the team’s preparation has focused on maintaining discipline while managing the challenge posed by Tusker.

“We have worked hard to reach this stage and the players have shown great discipline and character, Tusker is a strong opponent, but we are prepared for the challenge and focused on achieving our objective of reaching the final,” Robert Matano, Head Coach, KCB FC, said in the statement.

Team captain Alembo said the squad believes it has improved tactically since earlier matches in the season.

“The boys are ready. We have had our winnings; we have improved our strategy. We are ready to take on Tusker FC and emerge victorious,” Alembo, Team Captain, KCB FC, said.

KCB also pointed to a clean-sheet run in the competition as a key performance marker ahead of the semi-final. The club said it has reached the last four without conceding a goal, with Fadhili Masoud, Nashon Alembi, Siraj Mohammed and Victor Okello forming the core of the starting defensive unit during the campaign.

The FKF Cup remains an important trophy in Kenya’s football calendar, offering clubs a separate path to silverware beyond league performance while attracting sponsor attention and fan engagement across key urban venues. For corporates that back club football, deep cup runs also provide predictable matchday visibility and media coverage at a time when sports marketing budgets face increased scrutiny on returns.

KCB Group-backed KCB FC sits within the bank’s broader sports portfolio, which the organisation says includes KCB Women Volleyball Club and KCB Rugby Football Club, alongside support for other disciplines such as chess, athletics and golf. The bank said it has spent “millions of shillings” on sponsorships over the years, though it did not disclose a specific figure for current-season football support.

After the FKF Cup semi-final, KCB said it will return to league action in the SportPesa league, with a match against Sofapaka scheduled for May 17 at Kasarani Annex.

Kenyan rugby player Andy Cole Omolo is set to relocate to Japan to join Tenri University’s rugby programme in Osaka, in a move that will see him combine academics with competitive sport, according to a statement issued by KCB. The 21-year-old lock, who turns 22 on May 2, will pursue a degree in International Relations while playing for the university.

Omolo is currently attached to KCB Rugby Club and is part of the Kenya Simbas setup, the statement said. His switch adds to a growing trend of Kenyan athletes using education-linked pathways to access overseas playing opportunities, particularly in markets where university rugby serves as a feeder system into professional leagues.

“This is a big step for me and the first step towards becoming a professional rugby player. I am excited about the opportunity to grow both academically and on the pitch in Japan. I extend gratitude to Wazi Wazi and DBA Africa for their relentless pursuit of this chance,” Omolo said in the statement.

Omolo’s development has been closely tied to western Kenya’s school rugby pipeline. He was born and raised in Chavakali and attended Walodeya Primary School, where he started playing rugby in Class 7.

“I grew up in Chavakali and went to Walodeya Primary School. I started playing rugby in Class 7, but I wasn’t very serious at the time; I was still focused on football,” he said.

His commitment to rugby deepened at Chavakali High School from 2019, where he trained with the Kabras age-grade team, played for Western Chipu while still in school, and captained the school side for two years, according to the statement.

“When I joined Chavakali High School, that’s when I really focused on rugby. I trained with the Kabras age-grade team, played for Western Chipu while still in high school, and had the privilege of captaining Chavakali for two years,” Omolo said.

After high school, he joined Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology (MMUST), where he featured in three Kenya Cup matches before the team’s relegation, KCB said. The statement added that his performances earned him a call-up to the national Under-20 side in 2023. He later moved to KCB Rugby Club.

KCB Rugby Club head coach Andrew Amonde said the Japan opportunity reflects Omolo’s development since joining the club.

“Andy has shown tremendous discipline and work ethic since joining KCB. His progression has been impressive, and this opportunity in Japan is well deserved. We believe this move will expose him to a higher level of competition and help him reach his full potential,” Amonde said.

For Kenya’s sports business landscape, the move underscores how local club structures and sponsorship ecosystems are increasingly linked to international player pathways. While the statement did not disclose financial terms of the move, overseas placements can raise player valuation, broaden talent exposure, and strengthen the profile of Kenyan rugby institutions among foreign recruiters.

KCB also positioned the transfer as an example of how education and sport can be paired to unlock cross-border opportunities for athletes. The bank maintains sports assets across several disciplines, including KCB Rugby Football Club, KCB Football Club and KCB Women Volleyball Club, it said.

Omolo is expected to transition to Tenri University ahead of his academic and rugby schedule in Japan. His progress in Osaka will be watched by local clubs and the national team setup as Kenya continues to build depth in forward positions and expand player export routes beyond traditional destinations.