The position of Harambee Stars head coach has once again proven to be a precarious one following the resignation of Turkish tactician Engin Firat Wednesday.
Firat’s departure marks the seventh coaching change in just seven years, continuing a pattern of instability since 2016, when former Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa took office.
Since 2016, the Harambee Stars have cycled through seven coaches: Engin Firat, Jacob Mulee, Francis Kimanzi, Sebastien Migne, Paul Put, Stanley Okumbi, and Bobby Williamson. This averages over one coach per year, a statistic that underscores the challenges plaguing Kenya’s football management.
Firat, who was appointed on September 19, 2021, initially signed a two-month contract. In early 2023, his tenure was extended for three years until 2026. During his time in charge, Firat oversaw 23 matches, achieving seven wins, seven draws, and nine losses.
However, his tenure was marred by Kenya’s failure to qualify for both the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) and the delayed 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), though Kenya qualified as co-hosts alongside Tanzania and Uganda.
In the 2025 Afcon qualifiers, Kenya finished third in Group ‘J’ behind Cameroon and Zimbabwe, effectively ending their campaign. Firat had earlier expressed optimism, stating that Kenya had been placed in an “easy group” and stood a good chance of qualifying.
Speaking yesterday, newly elected FKF President Hussein Mohamed disclosed that Firat had sent a notice of contract termination at the start of the week, citing unpaid salary.
“We got the notice of termination on Tuesday evening, and I was not privy to it before. We will do an internal audit, and the report will inform our next move,” Mohamed stated during his first press conference at Kandanda House in Nairobi, days after his election at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
Firat had previously revealed, following a 2-1 victory against Namibia on September 12 in the 2025 Afcon qualifiers, that he had not been paid for nine months—a claim now extended to 11 months.
According to sources, Firat was earning a monthly salary of between Sh1.5 million and Sh2 million, meaning he is potentially owed between Sh16.5 million and Sh22 million.
“We will conduct an audit to determine the exact amount owed before making a decision,” Hussein added.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen weighed in on the matter during an appearance on NTV’s Sport On show on Monday, criticising Firat’s performance and suggesting his contract stipulated consequences for failing to qualify for the 2025 Afcon.
“We will pay him until June, but beyond that, FKF must bear the cost if they decide to retain him,” Murkomen said, adding, “His contract clearly states that failure to qualify for the 2025 Afcon would lead to termination.”
Firat’s resignation leaves the Harambee Stars in a familiar state of uncertainty. With Kenya’s national football team struggling to achieve consistent results and grappling with financial and administrative challenges, the search for a new head coach will likely spark further debate about the future of football in the country.
