The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has announced that all positions within the Kenya U-17 Men’s National Team, also known as the Junior Stars, have been declared vacant. The move comes as part of an effort to restructure the team’s technical department ahead of the upcoming 2026 AFCON U-17 CECAFA Zonal Qualifiers scheduled for November 15–30, 2025, in Tanzania.
According to the federation, the decision follows a comprehensive technical review conducted by the Football Development Directorate, which recommended a complete overhaul of the team’s coaching and support staff. FKF has initiated an immediate recruitment process to fill the vacant positions in compliance with CAF and FIFA coaching standards.
The federation has listed several key roles open for application, including Head Coach (CAF A License mandatory), Assistant Coach (CAF B License minimum), Goalkeeper Coach (CAF C License minimum), Team Manager, Strength and Conditioning Coach, Physiotherapist, Performance Analyst/Video, and Safeguarding Officer. All appointments are expected to meet the licensing and eligibility criteria set by CAF and FIFA.
The recruitment process is expected to be completed by October 20, 2025, to allow sufficient time for the new technical team to prepare the Junior Stars for the regional qualifiers. FKF emphasized that the process will be transparent, merit-based, and aimed at attracting qualified professionals with a proven record in youth development.
Kenya will compete against nine other nations in the CECAFA region, including Ethiopia, Uganda, Sudan, South Sudan, Rwanda, Burundi, Tanzania, Somalia, and Djibouti. The Junior Stars are targeting an improved performance after showing glimpses of potential in previous editions. Their best results to date include a third-place finish in 2007 and a fourth-place finish in 2018.
FKF President Hussein Mohammed and Vice President McDonald Mariga are expected to oversee the transition process and ensure the new technical setup aligns with the federation’s broader strategy of nurturing young talent. With the qualifiers just weeks away, the decisive action signals FKF’s commitment to strengthening youth football structures and building a sustainable foundation for Kenya’s future in continental football.
