Gor Mahia had to leave it late to see off Cameroon's New Star de Doula 2 - 1 in a nailing biting CAF Confederation cup match clash staged on Sunday afternoon, at MISC Kasarani.
Both teams swung quickly into the action from the kickoff, and Gor's Lawrence Juma failed to connect Francis Mustafa's pass as the chance went begging in the 4th minute.
Then Francis Mustafa proved wasteful as he hit the post with an empty net staring at him thanks to Boniface Omondi's deft cross on the left flank.
Boniface Omondi gave Roland Lane a hard time on the left flank forcing the New Star back liners to regroup and sit back in an effort to thwart off the marauding Gor Mahia striking force of Mustafa, Tusiyenge and Omondi.
New Star's first attempt on goal came on the 14th minute when Nelson Moukeu hit straight into the hands of Boniface Oluoch.
On the 21st minute, Mustafa proved wasteful as he failed to tap home. A minute later Omondi was brought down in the penalty area but the referee waved play on to the dismay of the fans.
Gor finally found an opener as the half died down, as Lawrence Juma capitalized on New Star's defense confusion to tap home Kahata's pass.
Then Kahata should have added a second goal but he headed directly to the goalkeeper.
On the resumption of the second half, Gor Mahia dictated the proceedings even as the visitors searched for an equalizer, and were forced to make two quick substitutions as the injured Roland rested for Bernard Ngangue.
Meanwhile, Gor mounted pressure on visitors as Omondi hit wide from a free-kick while Kahata struck the woodwork on the 70th minute.
Two minutes later, substitute Benjamin Bechem equalized for the New Star, throwing Gor into disarray, and forced them to push further for a winner.
Coach Hassan Oktay succumbing to pressure rested Boniface Omondi for Samuel Onyango, Mustafa for Erisa Ssekisambu, while George Odhiambo replaced Kahata on the 83rd minute even as the fans protested in disapproval of Kahata's substitution.
With the game seemly headed for a stalemate, Shafik Batambuze drifted a superb cross that found Jacques Tusiyenge unmarked and he rose above to head the ball home for Gor Mahia's winning goal on the 87th minute.
Tusiyenge should have added a third for Gor only for him to hit Ssekisambu's cross direct to Patrick Kibyen's hand.
Despite the slender victory, Gor Mahia won't have time to celebrate; as they need to work on the defensive lapses that have seen them concede set-piece goals in recent games.