Greg Shields scored a freak goal the last time his old team visited Rugby Park and he repeated his trick.
Then it was a cross that flew in at the near post, this time he broke the deadlock as he put the ball into his own net.
Goalkeeper Colin Meldrum appeared to have eased the danger as he got a finger-tip to Stevie Crawford's shot and took the pace off it, but the ball got caught between Shields' feet on the goal-line and he ballooned the ball into the roof of the net.
Meldrum had been called into action two minutes earlier to deny Craig Brewster after Lee Bullen's cross had found him in space six yards out, but the keeper threw himself across his line to make a superb save.
Killie's inspirational skipper Freddie Dindeleux has endured a torrid season with injury and he had to leave the field again in 66 minutes after a clash of heads.
Killie won their first corner of the match in the 80th minute and they made it count. Stevie Fulton's inswinging cross was met perfectly by Dindeleux's replacement, Kris Boyd, who gave Derek Stillie no chance from five yards.
There was almost a carbon copy four minutes later, but this time Boyd's header was inches wide.
The goal roused the home support and their team responded as they pushed forward for the winner. Peter Canero had the ball in the net three minutes from time, but was dubiously ruled offside.