Champions Kenya Police Football Club have turned to local coaches as they seek redemption after a slow start to the season, which saw the team fail to qualify for the group stage of the CAF Champions League.
Former Harambee Stars player Nicholas Muyoti on Thursday officially took charge as the Police’s head coach, with fellow former international John Baraza named as the first assistant coach.
Isaac Njeri has been appointed the second assistant coach, while veteran striker Cliff Kinanga will serve as the acting Team Manager.
Kenya Police FC coach Nicholas Muyoti.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Muyoti’s first assignment with the law enforcers will be on Monday when they welcome Nairobi United at Police Sacco Stadium.
The changes continue a trend of frequent coaching reshuffles at the South C-based club as they seek to stamp their authority locally and on the continental stage.
Muyoti, 49, takes over from Serbian Dusan Stojanovic, who was sacked following a string of poor performances by the team in the Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL).
Stojanovic had taken over from Burundian Ettienne Ndayiragije, who guided Police to their maiden Premier League title last season.
He was sent packing after Police failed to achieve their dream of progressing to the group stage of the CAF Champions League. The Burundian had been in charge since November 2024.
Before two-year spell of foerign coaches, Police had gone through several local men and women after their promotion to top flight football in 2021. Other coaches that have handled Police in the Premier League are Beldine Odemba, Salim Babu, Anthony “Modo” Kimani, Francis Baraza, Sammy Pamzo” Omollo, and John “Bobby” Ogolla. A Croatian, Zdravko Logarušić, also had a stint with the ambition Police.
Long-term deal for Muyoti
Odemba handled two matches as interim coach while Kimani was on the touchline during their CAF Confederation Cup campaign.
On Friday, Police Chief Executive Officer Japheth Munyendo said they settled on Muyoti since he was a proven tactician.
He cited Muyoti’s role in guiding Nairobi United to the group stage of the CAF Confederation Cup and expressed confidence that he could replicate the same performance at Police.
Coach John Baraza issues instructions from the touchline during a past FKF Premier League match between Sofapaka and Tusker at Kenyatta Stadium Machakos on May 5, 2019.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
“We failed to achieve our goal of qualifying for the group stage (of the CAF Champions League). Muyoti achieved that with Nairobi United in the Confederation Cup, and so he is competent, qualified, and aligned to our vision," said Munyendo.
"We are going to support him fully to achieve the same here,” he added, while revealing that it was Muyotii who settled on Baraza and Njeri as his assistants.
However, Munyendo did not disclose the exact duration of Muyoti’s contract, only saying it is a long-term deal.
After playing 15 matches, Police sit fifth in the 18-team league standings with 24 points, six shy of leaders Gor Mahia, who have played the same number of matches.
On Saturday, title-hungry AFC Leopards will be out to reclaim their table lead when they host newcomers APS Bomet at Nyayo National Stadium. Ingwe are chasing their first league title in 28 years. Gor are at home to Mara Sugar tomorrow.
