Record Kenyan champions Gor Mahia have arrived in Kigali, Rwanda, ahead of the 2026 CECAFA Kagame Cup, where they will be aiming to end a 41-year wait for the regional title. The team travelled in two groups, with the final contingent already joining the rest of the squad in the Rwandan capital.
The tournament, which brings together some of East and Central Africa’s top clubs, will run from July 24 to August 7, 2026, and also serves as Gor Mahia’s first competitive assignment ahead of the new football season.
K’Ogalo return to the CECAFA Kagame Cup after missing last year’s edition following their failure to qualify, having surrendered the FKF Premier League title to Kenya Police FC. This year’s appearance presents an opportunity for the club to reassert its regional dominance while chasing a trophy they last lifted in 1985.
Gor Mahia have been drawn into a challenging Group A alongside Rwandan giants APR FC, Ugandan champions Vipers SC, and Djibouti’s Garde Républicaine. The Kenyan side will begin their campaign against hosts APR FC on July 24 at Amahoro Stadium before facing Vipers SC and wrapping up the group stage against Garde Républicaine.
Only the winners of each of the tournament’s three groups, together with the best second-placed team overall, will progress to the semi-finals, leaving little room for error in the race for the knockout stages.
Ahead of the tournament, Gor Mahia will get an early opportunity to assess their revamped squad when they face Rwandan giants Rayon Sports during the annual Rayon Day celebrations on Saturday, July 18, at Kigali Pelé Stadium. The friendly is expected to offer head coach a valuable chance to integrate new signings and fine-tune the team before the competitive action begins.
The club has travelled with several high-profile additions as part of an ambitious squad rebuild. Among the headline arrivals is striker Paul Okoth from Ulinzi Stars after an outstanding domestic campaign in which he scored 18 league goals to finish as the FKF Premier League’s second-highest scorer. His goalscoring ability is expected to strengthen Gor Mahia’s attack.
The midfield has also been reinforced with the signing of Enock Machaka and Lesley Otieno from Nairobi United. Both players featured prominently in Nairobi United’s CAF Confederation Cup campaign, with Machaka earning the club’s Most Valuable Player award for the 2025/26 season following a string of impressive performances.
At the back, Gor Mahia have bolstered their defensive options with experienced goalkeeper Humphrey Katasi, who joins from AFC Leopards, while Kenyan international defender Daniel Sakari and versatile defender Davis Odhiambo Kaleo have both arrived from Kenya Police FC to further strengthen the squad.
Beyond regional bragging rights, clubs will also be competing for attractive prize money. The champions will take home approximately Ksh 3.87 million (US$30,000), the runners-up will receive Ksh 2.58 million (US$20,000), while the third-placed team will earn Ksh 1.29 million (US$10,000).
