The 2025-26 SportPesa Premier League kicked off with KCB FC defeating rivals Tusker FC 2-0, a win powered by two goals from new star Boniface Omondi.

While the victory gives KCB an early lead, the game was overshadowed by a major referee mistake in the second half.

KCB defender Nashon Wekesa committed a penalty offense which should have earned him a second yellow card and a red card, but the referee failed to send him off.

This blunder allowed KCB to keep a full squad, much to the frustration of Tusker, whose star striker Erick Kapaito later missed the resulting penalty.

This controversial opening match, which highlights the high stakes of the newly sponsored league, confirms KCB as an early contender under coach Robert Matano and suggests Tusker has immediate work to do.

The match, broadcast live, started as a cagey affair but quickly turned in KCB’s favor thanks to the clinical finishing of Boniface Omondi. 

Playing under his former coach Matano, the 30-year-old forward wasted little time in making his mark.

The opening goal came in the 19th minute when Omondi deftly headed in a cross delivered by December Kisakah. 

He then doubled the lead just before the break, around the 39th minute, by reacting quickest to a rebound from a long throw-in and slotting the ball past Tusker’s goalkeeper, Joseph Ochuka. 

While the goal was celebrated by the KCB camp, some commentators raised questions about a potential offside in the build-up, adding to the growing list of refereeing debates on the night.

Omondi’s performance—two goals from four shots—was hailed as a “dream start.” 

His experience, including multiple title wins with Gor Mahia, is clearly intended to push KCB toward their first-ever league championship. 

Despite a second-half push from Tusker, KCB’s defense, anchored by the experienced Clyde Senaji and Nashon Wekesa, held firm to secure a clean sheet.

The most significant moment of the match, however, occurred in the 57th minute and involved a clear refereeing error.

Tusker was awarded a penalty when KCB defender Nashon Wekesa handled a shot from Kapaito inside the box. 

Crucially, Wekesa had already been booked earlier in the first half. 

According to league rules, a second bookable offense should have resulted in a red card and Wekesa’s dismissal. 

However, referee Dickens Mimisa gave the penalty but failed to issue the second yellow card, allowing KCB to finish the match with a full complement of 11 players.

Tusker’s comeback hopes were dashed moments later when Erick Kapaito, returning to the club after time abroad, blazed the resulting spot-kick over the bar. 

This lack of cutting edge further compounded the team’s woes. 

The incident has drawn immediate attention from the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), with calls for a formal review. 

Poor officiating remains a persistent issue in Kenyan football, prompting renewed public demands for improvements in training or the eventual adoption of VAR technology.

The opening fixture highlighted the contrasting trajectories of the two Nairobi-based giants.

For KCB, the victory immediately validates coach Robert Matano’s aggressive summer rebuild. 

The veteran tactician, nicknamed “the Lion,” oversaw the integration of 15 new players, blending experienced veterans like Humphrey Mieno and Omondi with younger talent. 

This victory positions KCB as a genuine early contender, especially given Matano’s track record of winning four previous league titles with other clubs.

Meanwhile, Tusker, who last won the league four years ago, showed significant rust. 

Coach Charles Okere, a former assistant to Matano, is under pressure following a fourth-place finish last season. 

The return of two-time Golden Boot winner Kapaito was meant to reignite the attack, but his missed penalty and the overall performance showed that the Brewers still have work to do. 

They will need to regroup quickly, with difficult fixtures against rivals like Gor Mahia looming, as they seek to avoid repeating their recent history of slow starts.

The league’s financial incentive—a Sh15 million top prize—is expected to intensify the competition among the 18 clubs vying for the title this season.