As a consequence of the Canterbury earthquake in February 2011, the Cougars disbanded and Kench was forced to find another team to play for in the 2011 NBL season, subsequently joining the Manawatu Jets. His season was abruptly cut short after an ankle injury against the Southland Sharks early on in the season, which needed surgery. This subsequently kept him out of the 2011 Tall Blacks Olympic qualifying squad.