Kenya’s female Fifa referee Wanjiku poised to write more World Cup history
Centre Referee Josephine Wanjiku calls for medical support at a match between Ulinzi Stars against Kenya Police during the FKF Premier League match on April18, 2025 played at Ulinzi Sports Complex.
Kenyan referee Josephine Wanjiku returns to Morocco to officiate the 2026 FIFA Under-17 Women’s World Cup.
This comes just months after she officiated the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (Wafcon).
The Under-17 Women’s World Cup kicks off on Saturday, runs until November 7, and will involve 24 teams, including Kenya’s Junior Starlets.
Wanjiku is among 18 centre referees appointed by Fifa to officiate at the competition, and one of only three Africans making the elite list. The others are Algeria’s Ghada Mehat and Egypt’s Shahenda El Maghrabi.
Her appointment marks another milestone in a career that has seen her break barriers in Kenyan football, including becoming one of the few women to officiate as a centre referee in the top-tier Football Kenya Federation Premier League.
Wanjiku made headlines in 2021 when she began handling top-flight matches, establishing herself in a competition traditionally dominated by male officials.
She was also among the 18 centre referees selected by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) for Wafcon, held in Morocco in July and August this year.
During the continental tournament, Wanjiku officiated the quarter-final between hosts Morocco and South Africa. She was also appointed fourth official for the final.
At the 2025 edition of the Under-17 Women’s World Cup in Morocco, the Council of East and Central Africa Football Associations (Cecafa) region was represented by Wanjiku, Rwanda’s Alice Umutesi and Burundi’s Fides Banjurambona.
Wanjiku became the first Kenyan to officiate as a centre referee at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup last year.
In fact, this made her the only Kenyan (male/female) to take charge of a match at a women’s Fifa World Cup.
She was voted the 2025/26 FKF Premier League Referee of the Season.
The 2025/26 SportPesa League Referee of the Season Josephine Wanjiku poses with her Trophy on June 4, 2026.
Africa will have five representatives at this year’s tournament, namely, hosts Morocco, Kenya, Nigeria, Ghana and Zambia.
North Korea are the defending champions and have won the title thrice.
Meanwhile, Kenya’s Junior Starlets are already in Morocco for the tournament. They will be making their second appearance at the global junior women’s football showpiece.
The Junior Starlets are in Group "E", alongside China, USA and Samoa.
The Kenyans begin their campaign against China on October 19 before facing the United States three days later. They conclude their group matches against Samoa on October 25.
All three matches will be played at the Mohammed VI Football Academy in Salé, situated in northwestern Morocco.
