Mwamba RFC head coach Paul Murunga has praised the character, growth and determination shown by both his men’s and women’s teams following an encouraging outing at the 2026 Dala 7s in Kisumu, insisting the club is steadily reclaiming its place among the country’s top sevens sides.
Kulabu enjoyed one of their best tournaments in recent seasons, with the women’s team making history by lifting the inaugural Dala 7s Ladies title after edging Kenya Harlequin in a tightly contested final.
The men’s team also impressed despite seeing their campaign end in the Cup semi-finals, where they fell 22-5 to eventual finalists Menengai Oilers.
The semi-final appearance marked another significant step forward for Murunga’s youthful squad, having hard not a much promising opening of the Sportpesa National 7s circuit during the Prinsloo 7s in Nakuru.
Mwamba were one of the standout teams during the pool stages, finishing with a flawless record after collecting three wins from three matches.
They opened their campaign with a commanding 22-0 victory over Nondescripts before edging Daystar Falcons 19-14 in a fiercely contested encounter. They wrapped up the group stage with a hard-fought 26-17 win over hosts Kisumu RFC to top their pool with maximum points.
Their momentum continued into the Cup quarter-finals, where they survived a late Strathmore Leos fightback to claim a dramatic 15-14 victory and secure a place in the last four.
Reflecting on the weekend, Murunga expressed satisfaction with the performances of both teams, highlighting the continued development of the men’s side and the excellent balance within the women’s squad.
“We had a very good tournament. Both our men’s and women’s teams won all their matches on the opening day, which gave us a solid platform heading into the knockout stages,” said Murunga.
“The ladies have had an excellent run, and the blend between the experienced players and the younger ones is working really well. On the men’s side, reaching another semi-final is a big step forward. Compared to previous tournaments and even previous seasons, when many people considered Mwamba underdogs, we are now competing consistently with the top teams.”
Murunga believes the progress is evidence that the club is moving in the right direction and is confident there is even more to come.
“We will definitely build from this. The women’s team has now won every leg they have played, while the men’s team continues to improve step by step. We will use the break to prepare well before returning for the Kabeberi 7s, which we will be hosting. Our target is to perform even better and fight for the title.”
A key feature of Mwamba’s resurgence has been the emergence of several exciting young players in the men’s squad. Murunga, who has built a reputation for developing talent throughout his coaching career, says giving youngsters belief has been central to the team’s success.
“We have a very young team, and sevens rugby suits young players because of the pace and intensity of the game. Our job is to make them believe they can compete with and beat the established sides, and they are proving that they can.”
“I’ve always been passionate about nurturing young talent, and that’s exactly what we’re doing. I’m pleased with the progress we’ve made, and I’m excited about what this group can achieve in the future.”
The performances at Dala 7s further underline Mwamba’s growing credentials on the SportPesa National Sevens Circuit. While the women’s side continues to set the pace after another title-winning display, the men’s team is steadily establishing itself as a genuine Cup contender after consecutive deep runs in the opening two legs of the series.
The SportPesa National Sevens Circuit will now take a short break before resuming with the Kabeberi 7s, where Mwamba will have the advantage of playing host as they seek to continue their upward trajectory and challenge for silverware on home soil.
Belvine Omondi is a sports journalist who enjoys telling stories across football, volleyball, hockey, rugby and athletics. A trained journalist by profession, formerly worked for Pepeta and now contributes to the Sportpesa blog covering different aspects of sport.
