Kenya Shujaa will shift their focus to the World Rugby SVNS 2 campaign ahead of their anticipated push for promotion to SVNS 1 in 2027, while the Kenya Lionesses turn their attention to the Africa Women's Sevens scheduled for Nairobi from November 7-8, 2026, after both teams reigned supreme at the 2026 Safari Sevens.
Shujaa clinched their fifth consecutive Safari Sevens title after mauling Kenya Morans 24-5 in an all-Kenyan final at Nyayo National Stadium on Sunday, October 11, extending their unbeaten run at the tournament to 29 consecutive matches.
Their last loss at the competition came in group stage against Germany in 2021, underlining the national team's sustained dominance at Kenya's flagship sevens tournament.
Shujaa entered the final having recorded 28 consecutive matches without defeat at the Safari Sevens and 15 successive unbeaten matches at Nyayo National Stadium during the tournament.
Morans, meanwhile, were seeking their first title since 2019, when their squad stunned South Africa 19-14 in the final. They reached this year's decider after ending Shogun's unbeaten run with a convincing 31-10 semi-final victory, denying their opponents a fourth consecutive final appearance.
However, Shujaa proved too strong in the final after surviving an early scare from Lucky Onyango. Morans forced their opponents onto the defensive, with Samuel Asati receiving an early yellow card. Onyango came close to scoring, but was unlucky, knocking on near the try line after pressure from Victor Mola, allowing Shujaa to escape.
Clinton Amukwachi was denied minutes later just before entering the try box.
Brian Mutua was subsequently bundled into touch by Mathias Osimbo as both teams struggled to break the deadlock before the interval.
Shujaa emerged from halftime with greater attacking intent, Rayvone Ambale feinting a pass before crossing for the opening try and converting to make it 7-0.
Mola then capitalised on a counter-ruck, collecting possession and weaving through the Morans defence to score. The successful conversion extended the advantage to 14-0.
Festus 'Smardi' Shiasi added another try before John Okoth crossed to stretch the lead to 24-0. Dennis Ndayala scored Morans' consolation try after substitute Harrison Mauve broke clear to create the opportunity, but Shujaa held on for a convincing 24-5 victory.
Elvis Olukusi was named Player of the Final, while Mola claimed the Top Try Scorer award after registering eight tries. Kaleem Barreto finished as the tournament's Top Points Scorer with 52 points.
Also in the men's competition, French Renegades stunned Shogun 17-15 in the third-place play-off, while Zimbabwe beat SportPesa Fast Forwards 19-17 in the fifth-place final. South California Nomads saw off Gel Squad 17-15 in the ninth-place final.
The quarter-finals saw Shujaa thrash Wonder 7s 54-5, Morans overcome SportPesa Fast Forwards 38-15, Shogun dismissed Wellington Jaguars 41-5 and French Renegades swept aside Zimbabwe 17-12.
In the fifth-place semi-finals, Wellington Jaguars lost 28-7 to SportPesa Fast Forwards, while Zimbabwe defeated Wonder 7s 17-12. Gel Squad narrowly edged Uganda 29-28 in the ninth-place semi-finals, and Scotland fell 22-14 to South California Nomads.
The Lionesses also retained their Safari Sevens crown, overpowering Uganda Lady Cranes 22-5 in the women's final, with Tunisia settling for third. Uganda's Lydia Namabiro swept the women's individual awards, finishing as both Top Try Scorer and Top Points Scorer with eight tries and 40 points.
The Lionesses will now prepare for the Africa Women's Sevens, which Nairobi will host on November 7-8, 2026.
Kenya Lionesses will compete in Pool B alongside Tunisia, Ghana and Egypt. Pool A comprises South Africa, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Rwanda, while Pool C features Uganda, Madagascar, Mauritius and Burkina Faso.
With the continental tournament approaching, the Lionesses will be seeking to carry their Safari Sevens form into the regional championship, while Shujaa aim to build on their domestic success as they pursue their international ambitions and a place in SVNS 1 in 2027.
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