KCB FC Revamps Squad: Matano Receives Support with New Signings

KCB FC have signalled they are done with mid-table comfort. The bankers have moved aggressively in the market and in the dugout, reshaping both the technical bench and the squad ahead of the 2026/27 SportPesa League season.

After a flat 2025/26 campaign that yielded seventh place in the FKF Premier League and a fourth-place finish in the FKF Cup, the club’s response has been emphatic. Veteran head coach Robert Matano now has fresh voices around him and a very different dressing room to command.

New brains on the bench

The first big change comes in the technical area. KCB have appointed Peter Okidi Okoth as assistant coach, prising him away from newly promoted Mombasa United. Okoth arrives with a growing reputation and the task of sharpening the team’s tactical edge.

Alongside him, Bonface Olouch Otieno joins from champions Gor Mahia as the new goalkeeping coach, a move that underlines KCB’s intention to upgrade standards in every department.

They are not the only additions behind the scenes. The club had already brought in Tobby Owino as video analyst last season, adding a modern, data-driven layer to their preparation. Strength and conditioning coach Samuel Macharia, who returned in the second half of the 2025/26 campaign, stays on to continue building the physical base Matano demands.

Matano is clear this is no cosmetic reshuffle. “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.

Seven new faces, one clear message

On the pitch, KCB have gone for a full-scale refresh. Seven signings, spread right across the pitch, give the squad a very different look and feel.

The full-back positions get immediate attention. Right-back Mark Oduor arrives from Shabana FC, while left-back Jim Owili joins from Mara Sugar, offering Matano fresh legs and balance on both flanks.

In the engine room, the club have moved for steel and craft. Defensive midfielder Fidel Origa comes in from Gor Mahia to anchor the midfield, with central midfielder Geoffrey Ojunga joining from Bandari to add control and passing range.

Higher up the pitch, creativity and firepower have been prioritised. Attacking midfielder Brian Ouru, signed from Mathare United, will be tasked with linking play and unlocking defences. Out wide, Burundian winger Franck Nduwimana arrives from Rwanda’s Gorilla, bringing direct running and width. Up front, striker Assis Mambote, another arrival from Shabana, is the new focal point expected to turn chances into goals.

This is not tinkering. It is an overhaul.

Ambition from the top

The intent is echoed at boardroom level. KCB FC Patron Azu Ogola framed the changes as part of a clear, unapologetic push for honours.

“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.

He did not stop there. “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.”

The message is unmistakable: seventh place will not do again.

Matano’s test

All roads now lead back to Matano. The club has backed him with staff, with structure, with signings that fit his blueprint. He asked for players with “quality, discipline and mentality.” He has them.

The coming SportPesa League campaign will reveal whether this rebuilt KCB side can turn intent into impact, and whether the veteran coach can weld these new parts into a machine that finally drives the bankers towards domestic silverware.