Administration Police, Kenya Prisons earn KRU Championship promotion after dramatic playoff wins

Administration Police (AP) Warriors finally ended their long-standing playoff heartbreak after edging out Kabarak University 19-17 in a tense KRU Nationwide playoff final staged on Saturday, 23 May at the Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology (JKUAT), sealing their place in next season’s KRU Championship.

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In another pulsating encounter in Ruiru, Kenya Prisons also booked their ticket to the second tier after narrowly overcoming Sigalagala National Polytechnic 25-23 in a match decided in the dying moments.

The two sides will now replace relegated sides Western Bulls and USIU in the KRU Championship next season, marking a major shake-up in the competition structure.

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For Administration Police, the victory carried extra weight after years of near misses in promotion playoffs. The Warriors once again showed resilience when it mattered most, coming from 11-6 down at halftime to complete a dramatic turnaround.

Kabarak University struck first through an early penalty before Aden Noor crossed over for the opening try, giving the students early control of the contest. Ephraim Paipai kept Administration Police within reach through two well-taken penalties.

Noor added another penalty late in the half to hand Kabarak a deserved 11-6 advantage at the break.

The university side picked up where they left off after halftime, with Noor extending the lead to 13-6 through another penalty. Paipai, however, responded again from the tee to keep AP in touch, before Noor added yet another three-pointer to push the gap wider.

At 17-12 down heading into the closing stages, Administration Police dug deep. Paipai continued his reliable kicking display to reduce the deficit, setting up a tense finish.

The decisive moment arrived when Brian Caleb crossed over for a crucial try to hand Administration Police their first lead of the match. Paipai converted calmly to complete a stunning 19-17 comeback victory and spark wild celebrations among the AP camp.

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Kenya Prisons 25-23 Sigalagala National Polytechnic

In Ruiru, Kenya Prisons produced a similar comeback script to seal promotion after a nail-biting 25-23 win over Sigalagala National Polytechnic.

Sigalagala had looked firmly in control after a strong first-half display, going into the break leading 15-5 and appearing poised for promotion.

However, Kenya Prisons showed composure and physical dominance in the second half, slowly chipping away at the deficit before launching a decisive late surge to flip the game in their favour.

Despite a spirited fightback from Sigalagala in the closing stages, Prisons held their nerve to edge a two-point thriller and secure their return to the KRU Championship.

With their victories, Administration Police and Kenya Prisons now step into the KRU Championship next season, replacing Western Bulls and USIU Martials.