Kenya national football team

Name

The team's colloquial name, the Harambee Stars, derives from Harambee, a Kenyan tradition of community self-help events such as fundraising and development activities. The word means "all pull together" in Swahili, and is the official motto of Kenya, appearing on its coat of arms.

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.

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

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

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 would use red jerseys for home matches, white jerseys for away matches, and green jerseys for matches played on neutral venues.

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

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.

Results and fixtures

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

2025

• Barrow
• Minteh
• Olunga
• Bajaber
• Wilson Report (CAF)
• Olunga
• Aubameyang Report (CAF)
• Sichenje
• Olunga
• Jackson
• Diouf
• Mané
• Mbaye
• Ndiaye

2026

Coaches

Ray Batchelor was appointed the first national team coach in 1961. However, there was dissent regarding his managerial skills, and a revolt among players during a CECAFA Cup game in Zanzibar led to him being forced out. In 1963, not long after Kenyan independence was declared, Kenyan international Peter Oronge took over coaching duties; 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. :Caretaker managers in italics. :Managers since 1961 include:

• ENG Ray Batchelor (1961)
• KEN Peter Oronge (1963)
• ENG Ray Batchelor (1965)
• ENG Jack Gibbons (1966)
• KEN Elijah Lidonde (1967)
• FRG Eckhard Krautzun (1971)
• KEN Jonathan Niva (1972)
• ENG Ray Wood (1975)
• POL Grzegorz Polakow (1979)
• KEN Stephen Yongo (1979)
• KEN Marshall Mulwa (1980–1983)
• FRG Bernhard Zgoll (1984)
• GER Reinhard Fabisch (1987)
• KEN Chris Makokha (1988)
• MAR Mohammed Kheri (1988–1990)
• AUT Gerry Saurer (1992)
• MAR Mohammed Kheri (1995)
• FRY Vojo Gardašević (1996)
• GER Reinhard Fabisch (1997)
• KEN Abdul Majid (1998)
• NGR Christian Chukwu (1998)
• KEN James Siang'a (1999–2000)
• GER Reinhard Fabisch (2001–2002)
• KEN Joe Kadenge (2002)
• KEN Jacob Mulee (2003–2004)
• KEN Twahir Muhiddin (2004–2005)
• MAR Mohammed Kheri (2005)
• FRA Bernard Lama (2006)
• KEN Tom Olaba (2006)
• KEN Jacob Mulee (2007–2008)
• KEN Francis Kimanzi (2008–2009)
• GER Antoine Hey (2009)
• KEN Twahir Muhiddin (2009–2010)
• KEN Jacob Mulee (2010)
• KEN Zedekiah Otieno (2010–2011)
• KEN Francis Kimanzi (2011–2012)
• FRA Henri Michel (2012)
• KEN James Nandwa (2012–2013)
• ALG Adel Amrouche (2013–2014)
• SCO Bobby Williamson (2014–2016)
• KEN Stanley Okumbi (2016–2017)
• BEL Paul Put (2017–2018)
• KEN Stanley Okumbi (2018)
• FRA Sébastien Migné (2018–2019)
• KEN Francis Kimanzi (2019–2020)
• KEN Jacob Mulee (2020–2021)
• KEN Kennedy Odhiambo (2021)
• TUR Engin Fırat (2021–2024)
• KEN Francis Kimanzi (2024–2025)
• RSA Benni McCarthy (2025–present)

Players

Current squad

The following players were selected for the 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification – CAF Group F against Burundi and Ivory Coast on 9 and 14 October 2025.

Caps and goals are correct as of 9 October 2025, after the match against Burundi.

Recent call-ups

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

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

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Competition records

FIFA World Cup

African Nations Championship

Africa Cup of Nations

Main article: Kenya at the Africa Cup of Nations

African Games

Honours

Continental

• African Games****1
  • Silver medal (1): 1987

Regional

• CECAFA Cup
  • Champions (7): 1975, 1981, 1982, 1983, 2002, 2013, 2017
  • Runners-up (7): 1979, 1985, 1991, 1999, 2001, 2008, 2012
  • Third place (6): 1978, 1988, 1989, 1994, 1995, 2003

Friendly

• Gossage Cup / Challenge Cup (14): 1926, 1931, 1941, 1942, 1944, 1946, 1953, 1958, 1959, 1960, 1961, 1966, 1967, 1971
• Four Nations Football Tournament (1): 2024

;Notes

1. Competition organized by ANOCA, officially not recognized by FIFA.

References

References

1. Courtney, Barrie. "Kenya International matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation.
2. "The Harambee Stars (official)".
3. (20 November 2019). "Harambee Stars Archives".
4. (5 October 2020). "Harambee: The law of generosity that rules Kenya". BBC News.
5. (1983). "Politics, Ideology and the Underprivileged: The Origins and Nature of the Harambee Phenomenon in Kenya". Journal of Eastern African Research & Development.
6. (26 October 2006). "FIFA suspends Kenya". British Broadcasting Corporation sport.
7. Wandera, Gilbert. (25 October 2006). "FIFA Suspends Kenya Indefinitely". AllAfrica.com – The East African Standard.
8. Chweya, Edward. (20 February 2016). "New FKF president Nick Mwendwa sacks Harambee Stars coach Bobby Williamson".
9. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking – Associations – Kenya – Men's". FIFA.
10. (2019-08-12). "Kenya and Sebastien Migne end contract by mutual consent". BBC Sport.
11. (22 May 2017). "FKF unveils new kits in Ksh. 75M deal with Mafro Sports". [[NTV (Kenya).
12. (22 May 2017). "Kenya 2017–18 Mafro Sports Kits".
13. (8 September 2018). "2019 Africa Cup of Nations: Kenya secure shock win over Ghana in qualifiers". BBC Sport.
14. "Kenya suspends 16 footballers, coaches over fixing allegations".
15. (2023-01-13). "Provisional Suspension of Individuals Involved in Match Fixing".
16. Mballa, Tony. (22 October 2020). "When will Kenya get it right in coaches' revolving door".
17. "Profiles of Kenya Harambee stars coaches".
18. (21 December 2012). "Remembering the football debacle of 1965 when Ghana thumped Kenya".
19. (30 April 2006). "Kenya National Team Coaches".
20. (26 September 2025). "Coach McCarthy Names Final Squad for Final World Cup Qualifiers". Football Kenya Federation.
21. "Kenya - Record International Players".