Kenyan football to rank among best in Africa – Mwendwa
Football Kenya Federation President Nick Mwendwa has taunted the Kenyan Premier League to surpass rival leagues on the continent in the next half a decade.
Mwendwa was speaking during Gor Mahia’s coronation as Kenyan Champions at the Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos where Kogalo who had secured the league with three matches left had to fight for a 4-3 win over Bidco United to close the season on a high.
Successful season
Mwendwa described the 2023/24 season as hugely successful, urging fans to continue showing up for their teams as he termed it as just the beginning of Kenya’s vision 2030 that will ultimately see Kenya in the World Cup.
“We have not seen such a successful season before and I am very grateful for that. We saw an increase in the number of teams in the league and most importantly the number of fans who turned up for live matches in our stadiums this year more than any other year.
“We are looking to improve even further next season and I would just like to remind everyone that this is just the beginning of our seven-year plan,” Mwendwa said.
The FKF boss also promised the construction of new stadiums in the coming years, stating that the country’s league will continue to grow into the biggest on the continent.
His remarks come amidst criticism as Harambee Stars were forced to play their home games in Malawi due to undergoing renovations at Kasarani Stadium.
“I want to urge fans to come out in large numbers next season, stadiums are being built and they will keep getting better and I think in the following three or four years, Kenyan football will not be comparable to any other league in Africa.” He added. 
Gor Mahia defended their title for the second time in a row to mark 21 championship titles and seven titles to their name in the past decade.
Only Tusker has managed to come in between Gor Mahia’s winning streak, winning the championship in 2016, 2021, and 2022.
Some factions have attributed Kogalo’s dominance to a weak domestic league, advocating for improvements to improve its competitiveness.
Kenya is steadily recovering from the ruins of a 2022 FIFA suspension, which resulted in Harambee Stars missing out on the Africa Cup of Nations Qualifiers. As the country gears up to co-host the 2027 continental showpiece with neighbouring Tanzania and Uganda, hopes are high for a stronger football future.
Kenya's junior teams have also achieved remarkable success in the recent past, highlighted by the Women’s U17 team qualifying for the World Cup set for the Dominican Republic.
This success provides some respite even as pressure continues to mount on the football governing body and the Ministry of Sports to enhance the development of the sport in the country.
For these and more credible stories, join our revamped Telegram and WhatsApp channels.
Telegram: https://t.me/peopledailydigital
WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va698juDOQIToHyu1p
