PuraVida Sports

BY GEOFFREY ANENE

The 2025/26 Kenya Cup’s penultimate round kicks off this weekend (March 7) with dominant
Kabras Sugar Rugby Football Club up against KCB RFC in a top-of-the-table duel in Ruaraka,
Nairobi.

The other fixtures this weekend (all kicking off at 4pm) are: Menengai Oilers vs MMUST RFC
(Nakuru Showground), Nondies vs Daystar (Ngong Racecourse), KU Blak Blad vs Impala RFC
(Kenyatta University), Quins vs Kisumu RFC (RFUEA) and Nakuru RFC vs Strathmore Leos
(Nakuru Athletic Club)

Kabras Sugar RFC’s dominance in the Kenya Cup since their debut in the 2014-2015 season
stands as one of the most compelling success stories in Kenyan rugby.

In just over a decade, the Kakamega-based side – run by West Kenya Sugar Company Limited
where sporting enthusiast Tejveer Rai is Managing Director – has transformed from newcomers
into the defining force of the competition. Their rise has not been marked by brief flashes of
brilliance, but by sustained excellence that has reshaped the balance of power in the league.
From their very first season in the topflight, Kabras established a culture of competitiveness
that has never wavered. They have never missed the play-offs since joining the Kenya Cup, a
remarkable achievement in a league traditionally dominated by established Nairobi clubs like
KCB, Nondescripts and Kenya Harlequin.

Even more striking is their consistency at the sharp end of the competition.  
They have reached the final in nearly all seasons since their debut. Such reliability speaks to a
system built not just to compete, but to contend for titles every year.

Requires continuous renewal

Their trophy haul underscores that point. Kabras have won five league titles in six topflight
seasons, including their current impressive run of four consecutive championships. They are
chasing their fifth league title in a row.  

Sustaining success over multiple seasons is significantly more difficult than winning a single
title. It requires continuous renewal, squad depth, and the ability to stay ahead tactically while
rivals study and adapt to your methods.

The sugar millers have managed to do exactly that, maintaining standards even as expectations
have risen amidst still challenge from KCB and Nakuru-based Menengai Oilers.

This season’s eight successive wins provide further evidence of the enduring strength of Kabras.
Winning eight matches in a row with bonus points demands more than technical superiority. It
requires fitness, mental resilience, and the ability to manage pressure, particularly when
opponents elevate their performance against the defending champions.

An extended winning streak also suggests depth within the squad, as injuries and rotation
inevitably test a team’s resources. The ability of Kabras to maintain momentum has seen them
rise to the top of the league standings once again, reinforcing their status as the team to beat. 
Central to their continued dominance has been strategic recruitment.

Ahead of the 2025-2026 season, Kabras strengthened their squad by signing. Before the 2025-
2026 season kicked off in November 2025, Kabras signed Samuel Omollo from Catholic Monks,
Edmond Angoya (Kabarak University) and Michael Okello (Mwamba), signaling their intent to
maintain supremacy rather than rest on past achievements.

Proactive management

The millers bolstered their team again mid-season by bringing in Samuel Omollo from Catholic
Monks, Edmond Angoya (Kabarak University) and Michael Okello (Mwamba).

Kabras again reinforced in mid-season in January 2026 by bringing in Johnson Ombago and
Bravin Onyango from Oilers, alongside Rayvon Ambale, Adrian Kwesa, Kevin Keith Wafula, and
Harrison Mauve which reflects proactive management and a clear understanding that sustained
success requires constant reinforcement.

Such moves also reduce complacency within the squad and ensure competition for places
remains high, preserving performance intensity.

The leadership of South African coach Carlos Katywa has also played a significant role in shaping
the identity of Kabras Sugar RFC. South African rugby traditions emphasize structure,
physicality, and tactical discipline. These qualities that have become hallmarks of Kabras’ game.
Under Katywa, the team has demonstrated composure in high-pressure situations and
consistency in execution, traits essential for a side aiming to defend titles season after season.
Beyond the technical and tactical dimensions, Kabras’ dominance is rooted in institutional
stability. Backed by strong corporate support from the Rai family, with Tejveer Rai at the helm,
and operating from one of the hotbeds of rugby talents in Kenya, Kakamega, they have
demonstrated that elite rugby success in the country is not confined to Nairobi.

Their rise has broadened the geographical footprint of top-level rugby and challenged historical
hierarchies within the sport. Financial stability, long-term planning, and administrative
consistency have all contributed to creating a winning environment.

Ultimately, Kabras Sugar RFC’s dominance is not a coincidence or a temporary phase. It is the
result of deliberate planning, strategic investment, and a culture that expects success.

Rai sibling rivalry

Interestingly, Oilers are run by Menengai Oil Company whose Managing Director is Tejveer’s
brother Onkar, the two siblings always happy to throw banter before their sides clash in key
fixtures.

After one of Kabras Sugar RFC’s victories over the Oilers last season, for instance, Tejveer
expressed his excitement over the dramatic finish that kept fans of both clubs on the edge of
their seats: “I am happy that a clash between Kabras Sugar and the Oilers could bring such a
huge number of spectators from various parts of the country, who were not deterred by the
weather and showed up to watch the game. That was massive,” Tejveer reacted.

“I remember how Chairman (the siblings’ father Jaswant Rai) was looking at us with a smile
when the score hit 27-26 because we were following the game closely and it was a truly thrilling
moment. In the end, Kabras Sugar emerged victorious and completed a 4-peat. Full credit to the
Oilers for their incredible fight right up to the final whistle,” he added.

Tejveer then acknowledged that the rivalry between the two clubs was far from over: “It’s not
over until it’s over… let the team that plays well win because they are both brothers under one
father: The Chairman.”

Tejveer Rai’s commitment to sport

Ahead of the Kenya Cup final last season, Tejveer highlighted his company’s decision to back
sport in the western region in particular: “The Rai Group recognised that there was a wealth of
rugby talent out there, but many players lacked the platform to showcase their abilities,” he
said at the time.

“That’s why we decided to make a significant investment in Kabras Sugar as part of our
Corporate Social Responsibility initiatives. As a family, we value sports, and we are committed
to supporting and nurturing talent.

“As a club, we have a clear vision and mission, which both the players and coaches are very
familiar with. There are even more exciting things to come from Kabras Sugar RFC.”
His brother Onkar underscored this, celebrating the dominance of local rugby by the Rai
brothers’ sides, Kabras Sugar RFC and Menengai Oilers: “Having these two clubs face off again is
something I’ve really wanted to see. It reflects the high level of commitment shown by the
coaches and players, both in training and on the pitch. It’s clear to conclude that, right now,
Oilers and Kabras are the two best clubs in Kenya,” he said at the final.

Kabras’ current eight-match-winning streak is merely the latest chapter in a decade-long
narrative of excellence.

As they continue to top the league and chase further silverware, the defining question for
Kenyan rugby is no longer whether Kabras are the dominant force, but if main rivals KCB and
Oilers can consistently challenge their reign.