Stella Mwangi won the first KCB Group CEO Golf Series at Nyeri Golf Club on Saturday. She carded 40 Stableford points off handicap 8. Daniel Weru, who plays off handicap 7, matched her score, and a countback decided the title.
In all, 178 golfers took part.
Mwangi credits her four ball and her preparation
Mwangi put the win down to routine. “Golf is a game that requires discipline, patience and consistency,” she said. She plays with the same four ball every week, and the group pushes each member to improve. Her preparation before the event also counted.
“The key was keeping my head down, staying focused and taking every shot as it came. I am delighted to have won the inaugural edition of the series,” she said. She added the ladies’ longest drive prize to the overall title.
Division winners and special prizes
Daisy Mumbi, handicap 25, took the overall ladies’ prize with 38 Stableford points. In Division Two, Vinesh Shah, handicap 23, won the men’s category with 50 net points, and Catherine Nganga, handicap 32, won the ladies’ category with 41. In Division Three, John Nduru, handicap 34, won the men’s title with 42 net points, and Linet Murage, handicap 54, took the ladies’ title with 43.
Richard Kibicho, handicap 2, won the gross prize with 73. Timothy Kuria, handicap 18, won the sponsor prize with 36 points. Peter Ndichu of Ruiru Sports Club, handicap 14, took the guest prize with 36 points. Judith Wacuka, handicap 30, won the girls’ junior category with 31 points, and Kristopher Mwangi, handicap 22, matched that score to win the boys’ title.
On the course’s skill holes, Mbugua Macharia, handicap 37, won the men’s nearest to the pin prize. Lady Captain Serah Githaiga, handicap 17, won the ladies’ prize. Patrick Matu, handicap 6, hit the longest drive among the men.
Russo says golf gives the bank a room beyond the boardroom
KCB Group CEO Paul Russo used the prize giving to explain why the bank runs the series. “Golf offers a unique opportunity to bring people together, build meaningful relationships and strengthen connections beyond the boardroom,” he said.
“Through the KCB Group CEO Golf Series, we want to create a platform where we can interact with our customers, partners and the wider golfing fraternity.”
Russo then turned to the host town. “We are particularly pleased to bring this inaugural edition to Nyeri, a region with significant economic potential,” he said. He said institutions such as Nyeri Club nurture sporting talent, promote social interaction and support the local economy.
“There is an opportunity to further develop the club, enhance its facilities and strengthen its position as a key sporting and social destination in the region. We are committed to working with stakeholders to unlock this potential.”
The series moves to Thika on 12 December
The series will travel through Nairobi, the Rift Valley and Lower Eastern. The second leg is at Thika Sports Club on 12 December 2026.
KCB says each stop will give golfers and customers a chance to meet while the bank promotes the economic and sporting case for the host town.
Golf is one strand of a larger sports budget. KCB runs a women’s volleyball club, a football club and a rugby club, and it also backs chess, athletics and golf.
Nation Media Group reported that the bank committed KSh80 million to the 2025 East Africa Golf Tour, which ran 30 legs.
KCB shares have gained 35% in 2026 at the Nairobi bourse
The series launches while KCB stock sits near the top of its range at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE). The shares opened 2026 at KSh65.75 and closed at KSh89.00 on Friday 13 November, down 0.6% from KSh89.50 the day before. That is a gain of about 35% for the year, ahead of the 28.94% rise in the NSE All Share Index that Khusoko reported on 12 November.
The 52 week range runs from KSh55.50 to KSh101.00, and the stock closed at KSh94.50 in the week to 20 August as banking shares rallied.
The run follows two strong years. MarketScreener data shows KCB rose 58% in 2025 and 90% in 2024, after a 42.5% fall in 2023. The group now has a market value of about KSh286 billion. AFX lists it as the third largest company on the NSE.
Earnings drove the move. On 12 August, KCB reported profit before tax of KSh49.3 billion for the first half, up 20.8% from KSh40.8 billion, and the ratio of non performing loans fell to 15.1% from 18.7%. The board raised the interim dividend by 50% to KSh3 a share, paid on or about 10 November to shareholders on the register at close of business on 2 September.
On 19 August the group launched its Sustainability Bond Framework, which allows up to KSh300 billion in notes over five years. Russo told the launch audience, “I actually think 300 is not ambitious.”
Valuation data points to room above the current price. The stock trades at a price to earnings ratio of 4.38. Three analysts tracked by MarketScreener rate it a Buy, with an average target of KSh118.07, about 30% above the Friday close.
What to watch next
Investors get the next test on 17 November, when MarketScreener lists KCB’s third quarter results. Golfers get theirs in Thika on 12 December.
Mwangi leaves Nyeri as the first name on the series trophy, and she will carry the targets that come with it.
