The 2026/27 Kenya Cup season is set to kick off on the 21st of November 2026, with a blockbuster weekend featuring a repeat of last season’s final (and many seasons before that), as Kabras host KCB at the Forest. The league kicks off on the back of the National Sevens circuit, Safari Sevens, and Impala Floodlit tournaments, which have put Kenya rugby on an upward trajectory. So, can Kenya’s premier fifteens league keep this momentum going?
Kenya Cup has always failed to live up to its billing as the region’s premier fifteens competition, playing second fiddle to the sevens version despite the immense potential it holds.
Traditionally, the opening Kenya Cup weekend featured fixtures between the defending champions and the lowest-ranked side that had been promoted to the league, with the runners-up playing the highest-ranked promoted side. Among other things, the change in fixtures is aimed at breathing new life into a league whose potential has never been realised.
The Kenya Cup is Kenya rugby’s biggest property, without a doubt. Running for seven months, it features 12 of the men’s and 10 of the women’s top teams in the land, with up to ten fixtures every weekend spread across the country. If we add the Nationwide and Championship leagues, the number of teams goes up to over 70, but let us stick to the Kenya Cup.
The league has immense potential as a commercial product, but has always struggled to convert, lagging behind the shorter version of the game, Floodies, and now the Enterprise Cup. So what can be done to make the league more attractive and turn potential into shillings and cents? I have a few suggestions, while some of these may be long-term, others can be quickly turned around and ready for this season.
Spread Out The Fixtures
Currently, the six fixtures a weekend in the men’s league are all played on Saturday at 3 PM or 4 PM, depending on the weather, same for the women’s. It is probably the only league I can think of whose fixtures are still structured this way. So why don’t we spread out the fixtures across the weekend to give fans options, ensuring they can watch Kenya Cup action throughout the weekend?
Imagine a Friday night game under floodlights, Sunday afternoon games, and a return to double-headers on a Saturday, with the women’s league, Championship, and Nationwide included in those fixtures. Picture a Friday night game at Impala, with a double-header in Nakuru on a Saturday, followed by another on Sunday afternoon in Kakamega.
Why not also try the Floodies formula? A full-day fifteens rugby festival in one location starting from 11 AM, or maybe 9 AM?
Coverage
Content is King; we don’t need reminding. While we have done considerably well on this front since the last time we mentioned it here, a lot more can be done, especially from a club’s perspective.
Content creation is no longer a “big budget” item that a club can forego. It is just as important as your medicals, kit, and even water, except this budget line is an investment that you will reap from in the long run (not sure the same can be said for strapping tape). A simple highlight reel or photos from your game or training session go a long way in building an audience and keeping the one you have engaged.
“FT Score JKUAT 23-20 Mwamba #KenyaCup” on match day doesn’t cost much. Share your match-day squad ahead of the game (we’ll discuss accuracy later) or drop a quick quote from the coach or captain. I am sure you get the drift.
The point is: create as much around your teams as you can. This is what gives you leverage with potential sponsors. Kama Heha movers wanaweza, mbona si sisi? For those clubs with the muscle and ambition, why not stream your games live? Quins were onto something with the paid streams, albeit the execution failed them, Mwamba have also had a similar engagement. This can also be a collective decision by the clubs to have a broadcast partner, ensuring the games are beamed across the world.
Take Ownership Of The Big Games
Outside of the playoff matches, the league currently probably has three other big fixtures, depending on who you ask. These fixtures are what pull in the numbers, they are what give the league and the sport attention. Their delivery and quality can therefore not be compromised.
Currently, all fixtures belong to the host clubs, who decide where their matches will be played, within certain parameters then foot the costs. This works 80% of the time, but leaves out the 20% of matches that account for 80% of the attendance in a season. To borrow a leaf from football (I can’t believe I just said that), the Mashemeji derby can’t just be played anywhere, there are standards that Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards and the league settle on that have to be met, from safety and capacity to access. The same has to happen here.
Kenya’s biggest rugby game, which attracts close to 3,000 fans, can’t be crammed into an 800-capacity ground or an open field that can barely seat 1,000. The union or caucus, whoever runs the league, should agree on a standard for these big encounters and take ownership of delivering them, including the playoffs. Everyone who was there remembers and still talks about that Kenya Cup semi-finals double-header at the Nakuru Athletic Club (NAC) featuring KCB vs Strathmore and Nakuru vs Kabras. We need more of these.
The biggest qualm in these fixtures is usually revenue share or proceeds. If this can be clearly agreed on beforehand, it can be a solid start. In my imaginary world where this works, the union/caucus takes up the experience and delivery of the game, things like broadcast, sponsorship, technical delivery, communication, and fan experience, leaving the host clubs to focus purely on playing the game and collecting their earnings afterward. Imagine a league final at Kisumu’s Jomo Kenyatta Stadium, featuring a full-day festival in Dala-esque fashion.
Increase Fixtures
This is one of those ideas that will need time to implement, but from both a national team and commercial point of view, we need more fixtures in the league. Currently, a team that doesn’t make it to the playoffs plays 11 matches a year, while the recommended number for a test player is north of 20. From that perspective alone, we need more fixtures.
We’ve had several variations of the league, but I suggest that we eventually return to home-and-away fixtures with a playoff option, giving us 25 matches spread over 8 months and far more commercial touchpoints.
With these and much more in place, we will then be in a place to finally start talking about things like prize money, league sponsors, sustainable club operations and that professional set up that we all dream of.
For all these to come to life, we would require a tonne of work from all involved, but the heaviest lifting will come from the clubs, who will need to pull in the same direction for their own good. Impala, Quins, and Nondies showed us last season that it is possible to agree on commercial partnerships.
For the fans, our rallying call will always be the same, support your club, pay for tickets, buy merchandise, bring a friend and another, let’s enjoy the game.
If you could change one thing to improve the Kenya Cup, what would it be?
KWISHA… Nimeruka Nje!!!
