Kenya Commercial Bank (KCB) Rugby has named Dennis ‘Ironman’ Mwanja as interim head coach, taking over from Oliver Mang’eni in a bid to revive the club’s competitive edge.
In a statement, club chairman James Mugo said the decision is part of broader efforts to restore the dominance of the eight-time Kenya Cup champions after a period of underwhelming performance.
“We are committed to rebuilding the team and returning to our winning ways,” Mugo stated. “KCB Rugby remains dedicated to contributing positively to the development of the sport in Kenya and maintaining its status as a top-tier club. A key part of that is ensuring our team is performing at full capacity. After extensive discussions with the technical team, we made the difficult but necessary decision to make changes to the coaching setup.”
Mang’eni, who took over from longtime head coach Curtis Olago at the start of last season, will exit the club at the end of his contract on June 30.
Also stepping down are Backs Coach Darwin Mukidza and Team Manager Priscilla Amollo Ong’ombe, whose contracts are also set to expire.
Mwanja brings a wealth of experience and a deep connection to the club. He played for KCB between 2008 and 2012 and retired in 2014.
Since then, he has served in various coaching roles, including as assistant to Olago, head coach of KCB’s 7s side, and currently as head coach of the national women’s 7s team, the Kenya Lionesses.
Now tasked with reviving KCB’s fortunes, Mwanja inherits a side looking to bounce back from a disappointing season.
The team ended the campaign without a trophy, bowing out in the semifinals of both the Kenya Cup and the Enterprise Cup.
They lost 31-8 to Menengai Oilers in the Kenya Cup semis at their Ruaraka home ground on March 29, just two weeks after falling 25-21 to Kabras Sugar in the Enterprise Cup semifinals.
Mwanja’s appointment signals a fresh chapter for the bankers, as they aim to reclaim their place at the top of Kenyan rugby.
