Kenya national football team

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

Kenya

Nickname(s)	Harambee Stars
Association	Football Kenya Federation (FKF)
Confederation	CAF (Africa)
Sub-confederation	CECAFA (Central & East Africa)
Head coach	Benni McCarthy
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 Third colours
FIFA ranking
Current	111 2 (18 September 2025) [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; 14 December, 1932) [2]
Africa Cup of Nations
Appearances	7 (first in 1972 )
Best result	Group stage (1972, 1988, 1990, 1992, 2004, 2019)
African Nations Championship
Appearances	1 (first in 2024 )
Best result	Quarter-finals (2024)
COSAFA Cup
Appearances	2 (first in 2013 )
Best result	Group stage (2013, 2024)
CECAFA Cup
Appearances	37 (first in 1973 )
Best result	Champions (1975, 1981, 1982, 1983, 2002, 2013, 2017)

The Kenya national football team, colloquially known as the Harambee Stars, represents Kenya in association football. It is controlled by the Football Kenya Federation, the governing body of 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). The team plays its home games primarily at the Nyayo National Stadium in the capital, Nairobi.

Name

The team's colloquial name, the Harambee Stars, ^{[3] [4]} 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. ^{[5] [6]}

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. ^[7]

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. ^{[7] [8]}

Kenya qualified for the 2019 AFCON. The head coach at the time, Sébastien Migné, was appointed in May 2018, ^[9] and since his appointment Kenya has climbed back into the top 100 FIFA ranked nations. ^[10]

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. ^{[11] [12]}

On 8 September 2018, Kenya earned a win over 4-time African champions Ghana, winning 1–0. ^[13]

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. ^{[14] [15]}

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.

  Win  Draw  Loss  Fixture

2024

Kenya   v   Burundi

7 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Kenya	1–1	Burundi	Lilongwe, Malawi
15:00  UTC+2	Abuya 72'	Report	Abdallah 85'	Stadium: Bingu National Stadium Referee: Jean Ouattara (Burkina Faso)

Kenya   v   Ivory Coast

11 June 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification	Kenya	0–0	Ivory Coast	Lilongwe, Malawi
15:00  UTC+2		Report		Stadium: Bingu National Stadium Attendance: 6,000 Referee: Jalal Jayed (Morocco)

Zambia   v   Kenya

27 June 2024 COSAFA Cup	Zambia	0–2	Kenya	Gqeberha, South Africa
		Report	Odhiambo 8' (pen.) Otieno 19'	Stadium: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium

Kenya   v   Comoros

30 June 2024 COSAFA Cup	Kenya	0–2	Comoros	Gqeberha, South Africa
		Report	Djambae 34' (pen.), 49'	Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium

Kenya   v   Zimbabwe

2 July 2024 COSAFA Cup	Kenya	2–0	Zimbabwe	Gqeberha, South Africa
12:00	A. Odhiambo 54' Omalla 73'	Report		Stadium: Isaac Wolfson Stadium

Kenya   v   Zimbabwe

6 September 2025 Africa Cup of Nations qualification	Kenya	0–0	Zimbabwe
16:00  UTC+3

2025

Gambia   v   Kenya

20 March 2026 World Cup qualification	Gambia	3–3	Kenya	Abidjan, Ivory Coast
19:00  UTC+0	Barrow 55', 84' Minteh 61'	Report (FIFA) Report (CAF)	Olunga 69' (pen.) Bajaber 75' Wilson 90+6'	Stadium: Alassane Ouattara Stadium Referee: Abdou Abdel Mefire (Cameroon)

Kenya   v   Gabon

23 March 2026 World Cup qualification	Kenya	1–2	Gabon	Nairobi, Kenya
16:00  UTC+3	Olunga 62'	Report (FIFA) Report (CAF)		Stadium: Nyayo National Stadium

Kenya   v   Gambia

September 2026 World Cup qualification

Kenya

1-3

Gambia

Kenya   v   Seychelles

September 2026 World Cup qualification

Kenya

5-0

Seychelles

Burundi   v   Kenya

October 2026 World Cup qualification

Burundi

v

Kenya

Ivory Coast   v   Kenya

October 2026 World Cup qualification

Ivory Coast

v

Kenya

Coaches

Eckhard Krautzun became the manager of the national football team of Kenya in 1971

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 ^[16] led to him being forced out. In 1963, not long after Kenyan independence was declared, Kenyan international Peter Oronge took over coaching duties; ^[17] 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. ^[18]

Caretaker managers in italics.

Managers since 1961 include: ^{[19] [17]}

• 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 (1980–1983)
• Bernhard Zgoll (1984)
• Reinhard Fabisch (1987)
• Christopher Makokha (1988)
• Mohammed Kheri (1988–1990)
• Gerry Saurer (1992)
• Mohammed Kheri (1995)
• Vojo Gardašević (1996)
• Reinhard Fabisch (1997)
• Abdul Majid (1998)
• Christian Chukwu (1998)
• James Siang'a (1999–2000)
• Reinhard Fabisch (2001–2002)
• Joe Kadenge (2002)
• Jacob Mulee (2003–2004)
• Twahir Muhiddin (2004–2005)
• Mohammed Kheri (2005)
• Bernard Lama (2006)
• Tom Olaba (2006)
• Jacob Mulee (2007–2008)
• Francis Kimanzi (2008–2009)
• Antoine Hey (2009)
• Twahir Muhiddin (2009–2010)
• Jacob Mulee (2010)
• Zedekiah Otieno (2010–2011)
• Francis Kimanzi (2011–2012)
• Henri Michel (2012)
• James Nandwa (2012–2013)
• Adel Amrouche (2013–2014)
• Bobby Williamson (2014–2016)
• Stanley Okumbi (2016–2017)
• Paul Put (2017–2018)
• Stanley Okumbi (2018)
• Sébastien Migné (2018–2019)
• Francis Kimanzi (2019–2020)
• Jacob Mulee (2020–2021)
• Kennedy Odhiambo (2021)
• Engin Fırat (2021–2024)
• Francis Kimanzi (2024–2025)
• 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. ^[20]

Caps and goals are correct as of 9 September 2025, after the match against Seychelles.

No.	Pos.	Player	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Goals	Club
	1 GK	Bryne Odhiambo	(2000-11-28) 28 November 2000 (age 24)	16	0	Gor Mahia
	1 GK	Brian Bwire	(2000-06-19) 19 June 2000 (age 25)	5	0	Polokwane City
	1 GK	Farouk Shikalo	(1996-10-12) 12 October 1996 (age 28)	3	0	Bandari
	2 DF	Aboud Omar	(1992-09-09) 9 September 1992 (age 33)	56	0	Kenya Police
	2 DF	Rooney Onyango	(2001-08-08) 8 August 2001 (age 24)	22	1	Sogndal
	2 DF	Daniel Sakari	(1999-01-25) 25 January 1999 (age 26)	21	0	Kenya Police
	2 DF	Mike Kibwage	(1997-10-01) 1 October 1997 (age 27)	11	0	Gor Mahia
	2 DF	Sylvester Owino	(2001-05-06) 6 May 2001 (age 24)	11	0	Gor Mahia
	2 DF	Alphonce Omija	(2002-10-09) 9 October 2002 (age 22)	7	0	ES Sahel
	2 DF	Collins Sichenje	(2003-09-19) 19 September 2003 (age 22)	6	1	Vojvodina
	2 DF	Manzur Okwaro	(2006-01-01) 1 January 2006 (age 19)	3	0	KCB
	2 DF	Vincent Harper	(2000-09-22) 22 September 2000 (age 25)	0	0	Walsall
	3 MF	Duke Abuya	(1994-03-23) 23 March 1994 (age 31)	25	2	Young Africans
	3 MF	Austin Odhiambo	(1999-12-16) 16 December 1999 (age 25)	11	3	Gor Mahia
	3 MF	Timothy Ouma	(2004-06-10) 10 June 2004 (age 21)	10	0	Lech Poznań
	3 MF	Marvin Nabwire	(1996-03-03) 3 March 1996 (age 29)	5	0	Kenya Police
	3 MF	Alpha Onyango	(2000-12-23) 23 December 2000 (age 24)	4	0	Gor Mahia
	3 MF	Ben Stanley	(2004-04-24) 24 April 2004 (age 21)	3	0	Gor Mahia
	4 FW	Michael Olunga	(1994-03-26) 26 March 1994 (age 31)	67	34	Al-Arabi
	4 FW	Boniface Muchiri	(1996-08-26) 26 August 1996 (age 29)	11	0	Ulinzi Stars
	4 FW	William Wilson	(2001-12-23) 23 December 2001 (age 23)	6	1	VPS
	4 FW	Ryan Ogam	(2004-12-21) 21 December 2004 (age 20)	2	3	Wolfsberger
	4 FW	Job Ochieng	(2003-01-17) 17 January 2003 (age 22)	2	0	Real Sociedad
	4 FW	Lawrence Ouma	(2005-07-10) 10 July 2005 (age 20)	0	0	SJK

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	Sebastian Wekesa		0	0	F.C. Kariobangi Sharks	v.   Chad , 10 June 2025
GK	Ian Otieno	(1993-08-09) 9 August 1993 (age 32)	10	0	Richards Bay	v.   Gabon , 23 March 2025
DF	Siraj Mohammed	(1998-12-04) 4 December 1998 (age 26)	1	0	Bandari	v.   Chad , 10 June 2025
DF	Brian Onyango	(1994-07-24) 24 July 1994 (age 31)	40	3	Stellenbosch	v.   Chad , 10 June 2025
DF	Swaleh Pamba		1	0	Bandari	v.   Chad , 10 June 2025
DF	Levis Esambe	(2002-12-01) 1 December 2002 (age 22)	1	0	AFC Leopards	v.   Chad , 10 June 2025
DF	Erick Otieno	(1996-09-27) 27 September 1996 (age 28)	48	0	Raków Częstochowa	v.   Gabon , 23 March 2025
DF	Johnstone Omurwa	(1998-08-08) 8 August 1998 (age 27)	21	0	Abha	v.   Gabon , 23 March 2025
DF	Daniel Anyembe	(1998-07-22) 22 July 1998 (age 27)	11	0	Viborg	v.   Gabon , 23 March 2025
DF	Ismael Athuman	(1995-02-01) 1 February 1995 (age 30)	11	0	Mérida	v.   Gabon , 23 March 2025
MF	Brian Musa Katibi	(1996-09-20) 20 September 1996 (age 29)	2	0	Kenya Police	v.   Chad , 10 June 2025
MF	Teddy Akumu	(1992-10-20) 20 October 1992 (age 32)	60	1	Nejmeh SC	v.   Gabon , 23 March 2025
MF	Richard Odada	(2000-11-25) 25 November 2000 (age 24)	21	1	OFK Beograd	v.   Gabon , 23 March 2025
MF	Amos Nondi	(1999-02-10) 10 February 1999 (age 26)	16	1	Ararat-Armenia	v.   Gabon , 23 March 2025
FW	Moses Shumah	(2002-10-27) 27 October 2002 (age 22)	3	1	Kakamega Homeboyz	v.   Chad , 10 June 2025
FW	David Sakwa	(2004-02-04) 4 February 2004 (age 21)	1	1	Bandari	v.   Chad , 10 June 2025
FW	Nyamawi Beja	(2002-06-06) 6 June 2002 (age 23)	1	0	Assad	v.   Chad , 10 June 2025
FW	Adam Wilson	(2000-04-10) 10 April 2000 (age 25)	2	0	Bradford City	v.   Chad , 10 June 2025
FW	James Kinyanjui	(1998-08-08) 8 August 1998 (age 27)	0	0	KCB	v.   Chad , 10 June 2025
FW	Emmanuel Osoro		1	1	F.C. Talanta	v.   Chad , 10 June 2025
FW	Mohammed Bajaber	(2003-03-15) 15 March 2003 (age 22)	2	1	Kenya Police	v.   Chad , 10 June 2025
FW	Eric Johanna Omondi	(1994-08-18) 18 August 1994 (age 31)	36	4	UTA Arad	v.   Gabon , 23 March 2025
FW	Masoud Juma	(1996-02-03) 3 February 1996 (age 29)	22	8	Nejmeh SC	v.   Gabon , 23 March 2025
FW	John Avire	(1997-03-12) 12 March 1997 (age 28)	12	2	El Sekka El Hadid	v.   Gabon , 23 March 2025
FW	Jonah Ayunga	(1997-05-24) 24 May 1997 (age 28)	5	1	St Mirren	v.   Gabon , 23 March 2025
FW	Elvis Rupia	(1995-04-12) 12 April 1995 (age 30)	4	1	Ihefu	v.   Gabon , 23 March 2025
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 9 September 2025 ^[21]

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	Michael Olunga	34	67	0.51	2015–present
	Dennis Oliech	34	76	0.45	2002–2015
4	Elijah Lidonde	33	26	1.27	1950–1961
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 record										Qualification record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA		Pld	W	D	L	GF	GA
1930 to 1958	Part of   United Kingdom									Part of   United Kingdom
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	14	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										8	2	3	3	17	11
2030	To be determined									To be determined
2034
Total		0/16								82	26	22	34	98	111

African Nations Championship

African Nations Championship record
Year	Round	Position	Pld	W	D*	L	GF	GA
2009	Did not qualify
2011
2014
2016
2018
2020
2022
2024	Qualified as co-hosts
Total	TBD	1/8	0	0	0	0	0	0

Africa Cup of Nations

Main article: Kenya at the Africa Cup of Nations

Africa Cup of Nations record
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	Did not qualify
2027	Qualified as co-hosts
2029	To be determined
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

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 (shared), 1961, 1966, 1967, 1971
• Four Nations Football Tournament (1): 2024

Notes

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

References

1. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola Men's World Ranking". FIFA. 18 September 2025. Retrieved 18 September 2025.
2. Courtney, Barrie. "Kenya International matches". Rec.Sport.Soccer Statistics Foundation. Archived from the original on 12 November 2022. Retrieved 1 April 2007.
3. "The Harambee Stars (official)". Facebook.
4. "Harambee Stars Archives". Football Kenya Federation. 20 November 2019. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
5. Musau, Mwende Mutuli (5 October 2020). "Harambee: The law of generosity that rules Kenya". BBC News.
6. 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.
7. "FIFA suspends Kenya". BBC Sport. British Broadcasting Corporation sport. 26 October 2006. Archived from the original on 26 March 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2006.
8. Wandera, Gilbert (25 October 2006). "FIFA Suspends Kenya Indefinitely". Nairobi: AllAfrica.com – The East African Standard. Archived from the original on 7 November 2006. Retrieved 27 October 2006.
9. Chweya, Edward (20 February 2016). "New FKF president Nick Mwendwa sacks Harambee Stars coach Bobby Williamson". Tuko.co.ke – Kenya news. Archived from the original on 3 April 2019. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
10. "The FIFA/Coca-Cola World Ranking – Associations – Kenya – Men's". FIFA. Archived from the original on 19 February 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2016.
11. "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.
12. "Kenya 2017–18 Mafro Sports Kits". Todo Sobre Camisetas (in Spanish). 22 May 2017. Archived from the original on 6 June 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
13. "2019 Africa Cup of Nations: Kenya secure shock win over Ghana in qualifiers". BBC Sport. 8 September 2018. Archived from the original on 9 September 2018. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
14. "Kenya suspends 16 footballers, coaches over fixing allegations". www.aljazeera.com. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
15. Communications, F. K. F. (13 January 2023). "Provisional Suspension of Individuals Involved in Match Fixing". Football Kenya Federation. Archived from the original on 15 January 2023. Retrieved 15 January 2023.
16. Mballa, Tony (22 October 2020). "When will Kenya get it right in coaches' revolving door". The Star. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
17. "Profiles of Kenya Harambee stars coaches". Kenya Football Page. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
18. "Remembering the football debacle of 1965 when Ghana thumped Kenya". Nation. 21 December 2012. Retrieved 3 January 2024.
19. "Kenya National Team Coaches". rsssf.org. 30 April 2006. Retrieved 4 January 2024.
20. "Coach McCarthy Names Final Squad for Final World Cup Qualifiers". Football Kenya Federation. 26 September 2025. Retrieved 26 September 2025.
21. Mamrud, Roberto. "Kenya - Record International Players". RSSSF. Archived from the original on 27 November 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2023.

External links

• Kenya at CAF
• Kenya at FIFA
• Kenyan Football Portal (archived 2014)