Reality strikes Mwamba as Relegation sinks in

"It must be a big bad dream. Unbelievable that Mwamba has been relegated, Kevin Siende, a Kakamega-based Kenyan rugby fan quips.

"I don't even support Mwamba. I'm a Kabras fan. However, Mwamba have always had a personality that is different from the rest of the Kenya Cup outfits. Watu wa mtaa. No doubt, the Kenya Cup will be poorer for not having Mwamba," he laments.

The culmination of the 2024/25 Kenya Cup regular season saw a new reality for Kenyan rugby. Mwamba RFC had been relegated from the Kenya Cup.

A statement that could never be fathomed. This is the first time in their history to face relegation and it has stung hard.

Having managed only 16 points from their 11 matches, only better than the South Coast Pirates who had 9, Mwamba will face time in the lower division.

Their points total was a far cry from their counterparts Kabras Sugar who won all their matches and ended the season with 52 points.

Formed in 1977 and crowned Kenya Cup Champions in 1983, Mwamba has a long history of nurturing amazing players. For modern day fans, they are all about the emergence of the Kenya Sevens Rugby team as a force in the world game.

That success is down in no small part to Mwamba. They produced and fielded a number of the players that won Kenya's first Main Cup win in an HSBC Sevens in Singapore 2016, including Finals MVP Collins Injera who was proudly Mwamba. As was his brother Humphrey Kayange.

Mwamba captain Eric Shiemi echoed the feeling at the club in a statement.

“It breaks my heart to say that we have fallen short. We fought, we gave our all, but in the end, it wasn’t enough.

Relegation is a painful reality, one we never imagined for this great club. I know how much this team means to you, our fans, members, and everyone who has stood with us through thick and thin. We share your pain. We feel your disappointment,” Shiemi said.

In previous years other storied clubs in the Kenya Cup have suffered relegation. Nondescripts RFC and Impala RFC come to mind. Mwamba are certain they will bounce back.

“Mwamba is built on resilience, on the will to rise no matter how hard we fall. This is not the end. We will rebuild, we will fight, and we will be back," added Shiemi.

"The journey back to the Kenya Cup begins now. Stay with us. Believe in us. Because Mwamba is more than just a team we are family, we are history, and we are not done yet.”

It remains to be seen how long 'Kulabu' will be out of the reckoning. As Shiemi and club bosses state, no lack of effort will be spared to see them back in the top flight.