Gibson Weru sets the tone: Can Menengai Oilers go all the way?

The decisive phase of the Kenya Cup season arrives this Saturday, and for Menengai Oilers RFC the question surrounding their campaign is becoming louder with every passing week — will the Nakuru-based side finally turn the wheel and mount a serious title charge this season?

Oilers return to the ASK Showground Nakuru on Saturday afternoon where they host MMUST RFC in a crucial Match Day 10 fixture scheduled to kick off simultaneously with other league matches at 4:00 p.m. With playoff places, top-two finishes and survival all hanging in the balance across the league, every result this weekend carries enormous significance.

For the Oilers, the match presents an opportunity to steady their campaign after a rare setback that saw them slip to third place on the table with 40 points. Their 25–15 defeat to KCB Rugby in their last outing not only ended their unbeaten run but also intensified the race for direct semi-final qualification.

Despite the setback, head coach Gibson Weru believes the team has grown steadily throughout the season.

“It’s been a good season in terms of how we’ve been building up towards this final part of the stage,” Weru explained. “There has been a lot of learning and adjusting as we tackle each match because every opponent poses a different sort of threat.”

The Oilers tactician also believes the internal competition within his squad has helped push standards higher, with players fighting for starting places week after week.

“I don’t think there’s any area that we are lacking in terms of quality and depth. The squad is fit and healthy to go.”

That confidence comes at a critical moment in the season. Oilers have come close to challenging the established giants in recent years but are yet to fully break into the league’s top tier dominated by the likes of Kabras Sugar RFC and KCB RFC each with five titles since 2015.

Weru believes this campaign presents a real opportunity for his side to make a statement.

“This is the season. There are no excuses whatsoever in terms of not getting the results,” he said. “But again, we have to be cautious and take each game at a time.”

For now, his focus remains on the immediate task — overcoming MMUST before turning attention to what could be a decisive clash against Kabras.

“Our main focus is playing well against MMUST and getting a result, then planning for the next one against Kabras before we go into the playoffs where it all matters.”

The loss to KCB, however, still serves as a reminder of the fine margins that define title contenders. Weru admitted the match exposed areas that Oilers must quickly address.

“We could not adjust well to the pressure they gave us. Again, our discipline let us down because we conceded too many penalties.”

Elsewhere, attention will shift to Ruaraka where KCB host defending champions Kabras at the KCB Sports Club in what promises to be the standout clash of the round.

Kabras remain top of the table and recently registered their 50th consecutive Kenya Cup victory, a remarkable streak stretching back to 2022.