Kenya national football team

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Kenya women's national football team.

The Kenya national football team, also known as the Harambee Stars represents Kenya in association football. It is controlled by the Football Kenya Federation, the governing body football in Kenya, and competes as a member of the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and the Council for East and Central Africa Football Associations (CECAFA). It is colloquially known as Harambee Stars and plays its home games primarily at the Nyayo National Stadium in the capital, Nairobi.

Kenya

Nickname(s)	Harambee Stars
Association	Football Kenya Federation (FKF)
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	CECAFA (Central & East Africa)
Head coach	Engin Firat
Captain	Michael Olunga
Most caps	Musa Otieno (90)
Top scorer	William Ouma (35)
Home stadium	Moi International Sports Centre
FIFA code	KEN
First colours Second colours
FIFA ranking
Current	107 4 (4 April 2024)^[1]
Highest	68 (December 2008)
Lowest	137 (July 2007)
First international
Kenya 1–1 Uganda  (Nairobi, Kenya; 1 May 1926)
Biggest win
Kenya 10–0 Zanzibar  (Nairobi, Kenya; 4 October 1961)
Biggest defeat
Uganda 13–1 Kenya  (Uganda; 1932)^[2]
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	7 (first in 1972)
Best result	Group stage (1972, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2004 and 2019)
Four Nations Football Tournament
Appearances	1 (first in 2024)
Best result	Champions (2024)

Name

The Kenya national football team is known as The Harambee Stars.^[4][5] Harambee is a Kenyan tradition of community self-help events, e.g. fundraising or development activities. The word means "all pull together" in Swahili, and is the official motto of Kenya, appearing on its coat of arms.^[6][7]

History

FIFA suspended Kenya from all football activities for three months in 2004, due to the interference of the government in football activities. The ban was reversed after the country agreed to create new statutes.^[8]

On 25 October 2006, Kenya was again suspended from international football, for failing to fulfill a January 2006 agreement made to resolve recurrent problems in its federation. FIFA announced that the suspension would be in force until the federation complies with the agreements previously reached.^[8][9]

Kenya qualified for the 2019 AFCON. The head coach at the time Sébastien Migné was appointed in May 2018,^[10] and since his appointment Kenya has climbed back into the top 100 FIFA ranked nations.^[11]

In May 2017, the Football Kenya Federation signed a 3-year partnership with kits manufacturer Mafro Sports to provide the kits for all national teams, as well as junior categories. The national team will use red jerseys for home matches, white jerseys for away matches, and green jerseys for matches played on neutral venues.^[12][13]

On 8 September 2018, Kenya earned a win over 4-time African champions Ghana, winning 1–0.^[14]

On 14 January 2023, Football Kenya Federation stated that it had suspended 14 players, including six players from Zoo Kericho FC and two coaches for match-fixing allegations.^[15][16]

Coaches

Ray Batchelor was appointed the first national team coach in 1961. However dissension regarding his managerial skills, and there was a revolt among players during a CECAFA Cup game in Zanzibar^[17] and he was forced out. In 1963, not longer after Kenyan independence was declared, Kenyan international Peter Oronge took over coaching duties;^[18] however, he disappeared just hours before a Jamhuri Day friendly against reigning champions Ghana in 1965. His absence was never explained, and Batchelor was called in as an emergency replacement. This match was the team's worst defeat, with a final score of 13–2 against Ghana. At the time, the Ghanaians were a very strong team with a dangerous striker in the form of Ben Acheampong. Two days later, after Batchelor had reorganised the team, the Kenyans and Ghanaians drew in a friendly match.^[19]

Managers since 1961 include (caretaker managers in italics):^[20][18]

•   Ray Batchelor (1961)
•   Peter Oronge (1963)
•   Ray Batchelor (1965)
•   Jack Gibbons (1966)
•   Elijah Lidonde (1967)
•   Eckhard Krautzun (1971)
•   Jonathan Niva (1972)
•   Ray Wood (1975)
•   Grzegorz Polakow (1979)
•   Stephen Yongo (1979)
•   Marshall Mulwa (1980–83)
•   Bernhard Zgoll (1984)
•   Reinhard Fabisch (1987, 1997, 2001–02)
•   Christopher Makokha (1988)
•   Mohammed Kheri (1988–90, 1995, 2005)
•   Gerry Saurer (1992)
•   Vojo Gardašević (1996)
•   Abdul Majid (1998)
•   Christian Chukwu (1998)
•   James Siang'a (1999–00)
•   Joe Kadenge (2002)
•   Jacob "Ghost" Mulee (2003–04, 2007–08, 2010, 2020–2021)
•   Twahir Muhiddin (2004–05, 2009–10)
•   Bernard Lama (2006)
•   Tom Olaba (2006)
•   Jacob "Ghost" Mulee (2007–08)
•   Francis Kimanzi (2008–09, 2011–12)
•   Antoine Hey (2009)
•   Zedekiah Otieno (2010–11)
•   Henri Michel (2012)
•   James Nandwa (2012–13)
•   Adel Amrouche (2013–14)
•   Bobby Williamson (2014–16)
•   Stanley Okumbi (2016–17, 2018)
•   Paul Put (2017–2018)
•   Sébastien Migne (2018–2019)
•   Francis Kimanzi (2019–2020)
•   Ken Odhiambo (2021)
•   Engin Fırat (2021–present)

Results and fixtures

Main article: Kenya national football team results

The following is a list of match results in the last 12 months, as well as any future matches that have been scheduled.

  Win   Draw   Loss   Fixture

2023

Iran   v   Kenya

28 March Friendly	Iran	2–1	Kenya	Tehran, Iran
	Mohebi   77' Rezaeian   84'		Olunga   51'	Stadium: Azadi Stadium

Pakistan   v   Kenya

14 June 2023 Mauritius Four Nations Cup	Pakistan	0–1	Kenya	Saint Pierre, Mauritius
15:00			Moses   18'	Stadium: Stade de Cote d'Or Referee: Andofetra Rakotojaona (Madagascar)

Mauritius   v   Kenya

18 June 2023 Mauritius Four Nations Cup	Mauritius	1–0	Kenya	Saint Pierre
15:30	Saramandif   22'			Stadium: Stade de Cote d'Or Referee: Ibrahim Ben Tsimanohitsy (Madagascar)

Qatar   v   Kenya

7 September Friendly	Qatar	1–2	Kenya	Al Wakrah, Qatar
	Al-Haydos   34' (pen.)	Report	Okumu   20' Nondi   90+1'	Stadium: Al Janoub Stadium

Kenya   v   South Sudan

12 September Friendly	Kenya	0–1	South Sudan	Nairobi, Kenya
		Report	Okello   2'	Stadium: Moi International Sports Centre Referee: Abdoul Karim Twagirumukiza (Rwanda)

Russia   v   Kenya

16 October Friendly	Russia	2–2	Kenya	Aksu, Turkey
	Sobolev   8' Oblyakov   89'	Report	Akumu   16' Juma   36'	Stadium: Mardan Sports Complex

Gabon   v   Kenya

16 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Gabon	2–1	Kenya	Franceville, Gabon
17:00 UTC+1	Bouanga   60' Kanga   88'	Report	Juma   40'	Stadium: Stade de Franceville Referee: Mohamed Maarouf Eid Mansour (Egypt)

Seychelles   v   Kenya

20 November 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Seychelles	0–5	Kenya	Abidjan, Ivory Coast
19:00 UTC±0		Report	Olunga   3', 6' Juma   45+3' Onyango   62' Omala   73'	Stadium: Stade Felix Houphouet-Boigny Referee: Tawel Younoussa Camara (Guinea)

2024

Malawi   v   Kenya

23 March Friendly	Malawi	0–4	Kenya	Lilongwe, Malawi
		Report		Stadium: Bingu National Stadium

Zimbabwe   v   Kenya

26 March Friendly	Zimbabwe	1–3	Kenya	Lilongwe, Malawi
		Report		Stadium: Bingu National Stadium

Players

Current squad

The following players were selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification matches against Gabon and Seychelles on 16 and 20 November 2023.^[21]

Caps and goals are correct as of 20 November 2023, after the match against Seychelles.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1GK	Patrick Matasi	(1987-12-11) 11 December 1987 (age 36)	33	0	Tusker
	1GK	Ian Otieno	(1993-08-09) 9 August 1993 (age 30)	7	0	ZESCO United
	1GK	Joseph Ochuka	(1993-12-23) 23 December 1993 (age 30)	0	0	Bandari
	2DF	Aboud Omar	(1992-09-09) 9 September 1992 (age 31)	46	0	Kenya Police
	2DF	Erick Otieno	(1996-09-27) 27 September 1996 (age 27)	42	0	Raków Częstochowa
	2DF	Daniel Sakari	(1999-01-25) 25 January 1999 (age 25)	16	0	Tusker
	2DF	Johnstone Omurwa	(1998-08-08) 8 August 1998 (age 25)	15	0	Estrela da Amadora
	2DF	Amos Nondi	(1999-02-10) 10 February 1999 (age 25)	10	1	Ararat-Armenia
	2DF	Dennis Ng'ang'a	(1993-09-03) 3 September 1993 (age 30)	2	0	Zanaco
	2DF	Nabi Kibunguchy	(1998-01-05) 5 January 1998 (age 26)	1	0	Orlando City B
	2DF	Haniff Wesonga	(2003-01-01) 1 January 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Kenya Commercial Bank
	3MF	Teddy Akumu	(1992-10-20) 20 October 1992 (age 31)	56	1	Sagan Tosu
	3MF	Eric Johanna Omondi	(1994-08-18) 18 August 1994 (age 29)	37	4	UTA Arad
	3MF	Kenneth Muguna	(1996-01-06) 6 January 1996 (age 28)	31	2	Azam
	3MF	Ayub Masika	(1992-09-10) 10 September 1992 (age 31)	30	4	Sabail
	3MF	Duke Abuya	(1994-03-23) 23 March 1994 (age 30)	13	0	Kenya Police
	3MF	Richard Odada	(2000-11-25) 25 November 2000 (age 23)	13	1	AaB
	3MF	Duncan Otieno	(1994-05-26) 26 May 1994 (age 29)	13	1	Lusaka Dynamos
	3MF	Timothy Ouma	(2004-06-10) 10 June 2004 (age 19)	4	0	IF Elfsborg
	3MF	Rooney Onyango	(2001-08-08) 8 August 2001 (age 22)	3	1	Gor Mahia
	4FW	Alfred Scriven	(1998-01-26) 26 January 1998 (age 26)	2	0	Hødd
	4FW	Michael Olunga (captain)	(1994-03-26) 26 March 1994 (age 30)	56	24	Al-Duhail
	4FW	Masoud Juma	(1996-02-03) 3 February 1996 (age 28)	22	8	Al-Jabalain
	4FW	Benson Ochieng	(2001-10-16) 16 October 2001 (age 22)	2	1	Gor Mahia

Recent call-ups

The following players have also been called up to the Kenya squad within the last twelve months.

Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club	Latest call-up
GK	Bryne Odhiambo	(2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 23)	5	0	Kenya Commercial Bank	v.   Russia; 16 October 2023
GK	Brian Bwire	(2000-06-19) 19 June 2000 (age 23)	2	0	Tusker	v.   Russia; 16 October 2023
GK	Levis Opiyo	(1992-11-28) 28 November 1992 (age 31)	0	0	Leopards	v.   Iran; 28 March 2023 ^PRE
DF	Joseph Okumu	(1997-05-26) 26 May 1997 (age 26)	21	1	Reims	v.   Russia; 16 October 2023
DF	Collins Sichenje	(2003-09-19) 19 September 2003 (age 20)	3	0	KuPS	v.   Russia; 16 October 2023
DF	David Ochieng	(1992-10-07) 7 October 1992 (age 31)	40	2	Mathare United	v.   South Sudan; 12 September 2023
DF	Daniel Anyembe	(1998-07-22) 22 July 1998 (age 25)	4	0	Viborg	v.   South Sudan; 12 September 2023
DF	Robinson Kamura	(1994-09-30) 30 September 1994 (age 29)	3	0	Kenya Commercial Bank	2023 Mauritius Four Nations Cup
DF	Siraj Mohammed	(1998-12-04) 4 December 1998 (age 25)	0	0	Bandari	2023 Mauritius Four Nations Cup
DF	Brian Onyango	(1994-07-24) 24 July 1994 (age 29)	39	3	Mamelodi Sundowns	v.   Iran, 28 March 2023
DF	Andrew Juma	(1994-08-07) 7 August 1994 (age 29)	1	0	Bandari	v.   Iran; 28 March 2023 ^PRE
DF	Maurice Owino	(2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 23)	0	0	KCB	v.   Iran; 28 March 2023 ^PRE
MF	Alpha Chris Onyango	(2000-12-23) 23 December 2000 (age 23)	0	0	Gor Mahia	v.   Russia; 16 October 2023
MF	Victor Omune	(1993-02-14) 14 February 1993 (age 31)	3	0	Leopards	2023 Mauritius Four Nations Cup
MF	Alvin Mang'eni	(1995-01-08) 8 January 1995 (age 29)	0	0	Kenya Police	2023 Mauritius Four Nations Cup
MF	Wilkims Ochieng	(2003-02-15) 15 February 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Levadiakos	v.   Iran, 28 March 2023
MF	Moses Shumah	(1994-12-21) 21 December 1994 (age 29)	2	1	Kakamega Homeboyz	v.   Iran; 28 March 2023 ^PRE
MF	Hassan Beja	(2003-01-13) 13 January 2003 (age 21)	0	0	Nzoia Sugar	v.   Iran; 28 March 2023 ^PRE
MF	Joseph Mwangi	(1986-04-06) 6 April 1986 (age 38)	0	0	Nzoia Sugar	v.   Iran; 28 March 2023 ^PRE
FW	Clifton Miheso	(1993-02-05) 5 February 1993 (age 31)	45	7	Gor Mahia	v.   Russia; 16 October 2023
FW	Hassan Abdallah	(1996-07-06) 6 July 1996 (age 27)	19	6	Bandari	v.   South Sudan; 12 September 2023
FW	Elvis Rupia	(1995-04-12) 12 April 1995 (age 29)	4	1	Kenya Police	v.   South Sudan; 12 September 2023
FW	Boniface Omondi	(1994-11-22) 22 November 1994 (age 29)	0	0	Gor Mahia	2023 Mauritius Four Nations Cup
^INJ Withdrew due to injury ^PRE Preliminary/Standby squad ^RET Retired from the national team ^SUS Serving suspension ^WD Withdrew from the squad due to non-injury issue

Records

As of 26 March 2024^[22]

Players in bold are still active with Kenya.

Most appearances

Rank	Player	Caps	Goals	Career
1	Musa Otieno	90	9	1993–2009
2	Jonathan Niva	88	10	1965–1976
3	Allan Thigo	81	11	1969–1978
4	John Nyawanga	80	17	1965–1976
5	Dennis Oliech	76	34	2002–2015
6	Robert Mambo Mumba	72	13	2000–2009
7	Titus Mulama	71	8	2001–2012
8	Francis Onyiso	70	0	1996–2011
9	Wilberforce Mulamba	68	14	1978–1988
	James Siang'a	68	0	1963–1975

Top goalscorers

Rank	Player	Goals	Caps	Ratio	Career
1	William Ouma	35	66	0.53	1965–1977
2	Dennis Oliech	34	76	0.45	2002–2015
3	Elijah Lidonde	33	26	1.27	1950–1961
4	Michael Olunga	29	58	0.5	2015–present
5	Ali Kajo	26	32	0.81	1959–1969
	Livingstone Madegwa	26	49	0.53	1964–1972
7	Joe Kadenge	25	63	0.4	1957–1970
8	John Baraza	21	52	0.4	2002–2011
9	Daniel Nicodemus	17	34	0.5	1963–1972
	Mike Origi	17	48	0.35	1990–2004
	John Nyawanga	17	80	0.21	1965–1976

Competition records

FIFA World Cup

FIFA World Cup										Qualification
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	F	A		Pld	W	D	L	F	A
1962 to 1970	Did not enter									Declined participation
1974	Did not qualify									6	2	2	2	9	8
1978										2	0	1	1	0	1
1982										2	1	0	1	3	6
1986										4	1	1	2	6	10
1990										6	1	3	2	2	4
1994										2	1	0	1	2	4
1998										8	4	1	3	13	14
2002										2	0	1	1	0	2
2006										12	4	2	6	11	17
2010										12	4	1	7	13	16
2014										8	3	3	2	11	5
2018										4	2	1	1	6	4
2022										6	1	3	2	4	9
2026	To be determined									2	1	0	1	6	2
2030										To be determined
2034
Total		0/16								76	25	19	32	86	102

Africa Cup of Nations

Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
1957 to   1959	Not affiliated to CAF
1962 to   1970	Did not qualify
1972	Group stage	5th	3	0	2	1	3	4
1974 to   1982	Did not qualify
1984	Did not enter
1986	Did not qualify
1988	Group stage	8th	3	0	1	2	0	6
1990		8th	3	0	1	2	0	3
1992		9th	2	0	0	2	1	5
1994	Did not qualify
1996	Withdrew
1998 to   2002	Did not qualify
2004	Group stage	11th	3	1	0	2	4	6
2006 to   2017	Did not qualify
2019	Group stage	17th	3	1	0	2	3	7
2021	Did not qualify
2023	Disqualified due to FIFA suspension
2025	to be determined
2027	Qualified as co-host
Total	Group stage	7/36	17	2	4	11	11	31

African Games

Year	Round	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1987	2nd	5	2	2	1	7	6

CECAFA Cup

• •   Winners (7) : 1975, 1981, 1982, 1983, 2002, 2013, 2017
  •   Runners-up (7) : 1979, 1985, 1991, 1999, 2001, 2008, 2012

References

1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking". FIFA. 4 April 2024. Retrieved 4 April 2024.
2. Courtney, Barrie. "Kenya International matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2007.
3. Elo rankings change compared to one year ago. "World Football Elo Ratings". eloratings.net. 27 March 2024. Retrieved 27 March 2024.
4. "The Harambee Stars (official)". Facebook.
5. "Harambee Stars Archives". Football Kenya Federation. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
6. Musau, Mwende Mutuli (5 October 2020). "Harambee: The law of generosity that rules Kenya". BBC News.
7. Ng'ethe, Njuguna (1983). "Politics, Ideology and the Underprivileged: The Origins and Nature of the Harambee Phenomenon in Kenya". Journal of Eastern African Research & Development. 13: 150–170. JSTOR 24325584.
8. "FIFA suspends Kenya". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation sport. 26 October 2006. from the original on 26 March 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2006.
9. Wandera, Gilbert (25 October 2006). "FIFA Suspends Kenya Indefinitely". Nairobi: AllAfrica.com – The East African Standard. from the original on 7 November 2006. Retrieved 27 October 2006.
10. Chweya, Edward (20 February 2016). "New FKF president Nick Mwendwa sacks Harambee Stars coach Bobby Williamson". Tuko.co.ke – Kenya news. from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
11. . FIFA. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
12. "FKF unveils new kits in Ksh. 75M deal with Mafro Sports" (video). NTV Kenya. 22 May 2017. Archived from the original on 22 December 2021. Retrieved 15 June 2017 – via YouTube.
13. "Kenya 2017–18 Mafro Sports Kits". Todo Sobre Camisetas (in Spanish). 22 May 2017. from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
14. "2019 Africa Cup of Nations: Kenya secure shock win over Ghana in qualifiers". BBC Sport. 8 September 2018. from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
15. "Kenya suspends 16 footballers, coaches over fixing allegations". www.aljazeera.com. from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
16. Communications, F. K. F. (13 January 2023). "Provisional Suspension of Individuals Involved in Match Fixing". Football Kenya Federation. from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
17. Mballa, Tony (22 October 2020). "When will Kenya get it right in coaches' revolving door". The Star. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
18. "Profiles of Kenya Harambee stars coaches". Kenya Football Page. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
19. "Remembering the football debacle of 1965 when Ghana thumped Kenya". Nation. 21 December 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
20. "Kenya National Team Coaches". rsssf.org. 30 April 2006. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
21. "Final Squad". Facebook. Football Kenya Federation.
22. Mamrud, Roberto. "Kenya - Record International Players". RSSSF. from the original on 27 November 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.

External links

 

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kenya national football team.

• Kenya at CAF
• Kenya at FIFA
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