KCB FC Rebuild: Matano's Ambitious Plans for 2026/27

KCB FC are not tinkering. They are tearing up and rewriting.

After a flat 2025/26 season that yielded seventh place in the FKF Premier League and a fourth-place finish in the FKF Cup, the bankers have moved aggressively on and off the pitch, backing veteran head coach Robert Matano with a sweeping overhaul of his technical bench and squad.

New brains on the bench

The first statement came in the dugout.

KCB have brought in Peter Okidi Okoth as assistant coach, prising him away from newly promoted Mombasa United. Alongside him, Bonface Olouch Otieno arrives from Gor Mahia to take over as goalkeeping coach, a specialist role KCB clearly want to sharpen as they chase fine margins next season.

They are not stopping there behind the scenes. The club, which appointed Tobby Owino as video analyst last season, will continue to lean heavily on data and detailed opponent breakdowns, while strength and conditioning coach Samuel Macharia — who rejoined midway through the last campaign — remains in place to drive the physical standards.

It is a backroom built for a club that expects to compete, not just participate.

Seven fresh faces, one clear idea

On the pitch, the recruitment drive is just as decisive.

Seven new signings walk into Matano’s dressing room, and they cover almost every line of the pitch.

• From Shabana FC comes right-back Mark Oduor, a direct reinforcement on the flank.
• On the opposite side, left-back Jim Owili arrives from Mara Sugar, giving KCB fresh legs and balance down both wings.
• The spine has been addressed too. Defensive midfielder Fidel Origa joins from Gor Mahia, tasked with screening the back four and setting the tempo from deep.
• Ahead of him, creative responsibility will be shared with attacking midfielder Brian Ouru, snapped up from Mathare United to inject guile between the lines.
• Out wide, Burundian winger Franck Nduwimana signs from Rwanda’s Gorilla, adding pace and unpredictability on the flanks.
• In the box, striker Assis Mambote, another recruit from Shabana, offers a new focal point in attack.
• Central midfielder Geoffrey Ojunga, brought in from Bandari, rounds off the intake, providing control and competition in the heart of midfield.

This is not a scattergun spree. It is a full-scale reshaping of a squad that fell short of its own expectations.

Matano’s stamp on the project

Matano has made it clear the rebuild is tailored to his footballing philosophy.

“We have been deliberate in identifying players who fit the way we want to play and who possess the quality, discipline and mentality required at KCB. The reinforcement of our technical bench will ensure that we are better prepared for the demands of the new season,” he said.

The message is unmistakable: this is his team now, front to back. From the assistant coach to the goalkeeper trainer, from the holding midfielder to the centre-forward, every piece is chosen to match his demands for intensity, structure and mentality.

Ambition from the top

The push is being driven from the boardroom as well.

KCB FC Patron Azu Ogola framed the changes as a declaration of intent rather than a routine refresh.

“KCB have consistently demonstrated their ambition to compete at the highest level, and these changes reflect our commitment to building a team capable of challenging for trophies. We have assembled a strong technical team and recruited quality players who share our vision," Ogola said.

“As we head into the new season, our expectations are clear: we want to be competitive in every match and make our supporters proud through consistent performances.”

No talk of transition. No soft landing.

From frustration to expectation

Last season’s seventh-place league finish and near-miss in the FKF Cup stung a club that talks openly about trophies. That frustration has now been channelled into a calculated reset: new minds on the bench, new legs on the pitch, and a coach with the authority to demand more.

The question is no longer whether KCB are rebuilding. It is whether this revamped, hardened version of the bankers can finally turn ambition into domestic silverware in 2026/27.