Bermuda slumped to their 18th one-day international (ODI) loss at the hands of Kenya in Nairobi yesterday.

Sent in to bat, the Islanders could muster only 174 in 41.2 overs after their top order again crumbled, while in reply the Kenyans achieved victory with eight wickets in hand and 130 balls to spare to go up 1-0 in the best-of-three series.

"The mood in the camp is not a happy one at the moment, I can tell you that," team manager Lionel Tannock lamented. "We had a team meeting afterwards and tomorrow (today) we will practise in the nets and hopefully come back with better results than this."

It was the Islanders' second straight loss in Nairobi this week, a result that won't do their confidence any good ahead of tomorrow's second ODI which could see the Kenyans clinch the series with another dominant performance such as yesterday's.

From the outset the Kenyans, fresh off convincing wins over Canada, were on top as the tourists found themselves against the ropes at 51 for five with openers Stephen Outerbridge (two) and Jekon Edness (12) and the big bats of James Celestine (15), David Hemp (nine) and skipper Irving Romaine (two) among the early casualties.

A sixth-wicket partnership worth 61 runs between Janeiro Tucker (18) and top scorer Lionel Cann, who dominated the stand with a typically robust 52 off 32 balls, added temporary stability to the innings.

Once Tucker and Cann, who dispatched ten boundaries to the fence, were removed in the space of 11 runs the Kenyans tightened their grip on the match as Dwayne Leverock (four) made a cameo at the crease.

Bermuda's tail wagged, however, with youngster Malachi Jones stroking a brisk 21 off 22 balls to add a vital 40 runs for the ninth wicket with Under-19 team-mate Rodney Trott, who remained unbeaten on 22 when the last wicket fell.

Opening bowler Peter Ongondo, the catalyst for Bermuda's top-order collapse, led the Kenyans' attack with three for 16 off seven overs with one maiden.

Asked to score at 3.24 runs per over, Kenya lost the early wicket of opener David Obuya (0) with only one run on the board.

A 104-run second-wicket stand between Maurice Omua (46) and Alex Obanda (79) put the Kenyans firmly back in control before Obanda and Steve Tikolo (42) shared in an unbroken 69-run third-wicket partnership that powered the hosts to a comfortable victory.

Off spinner Trott (one for 32) and fast bowler Kevin Hurdle (one for 47) were the Island's most successful bowlers, while left arm spinner Leverock (none for 47 off ten overs) bowled economically.

Kion Butterfield's tour of Kenya has come to a disappointing end as Bermuda team officials have opted to send the injured Warwick all-rounder home early.

Butterfield was among those making their debut tour with the senior national squad at this level.

A badly injured left foot that resulted from a trip up in his Nairobi hotel room has put paid to any chance of Butterfield seeing action in Kenya and Dubai.

"We have been here over a week and he hasn't improved," team manager Lionel Tannock said.

"Brown (team physio Craig Brown) has been icing it and trying to get the swelling to go down - but all to no avail.

"So it has been decided to send Kion back home. It's unfortunate because he didn't get a chance to play any international matches on tour."

Butterfield departed Kenya yesterday.

Cleveland skipper Jason Simons, St. David's all-rounder Arthur Pitcher Jr., Bermuda Under-19 all-rounder Dennico Hollis and PHC wicketkeeper Khiry Furbert are all currently on standby.

However, coach Gus Logie is prepared to soldier on with the players already based in Africa.

"We are just going to have to work with what we have," Tannock said.