In recent years, Kenya has always depended on local players or players who have moved from Kenyan leagues to Europe to play for Harambee Stars. This is unlike other countries, not to mention Africa alone, but also in Europe, who have in their squads players of African origin.
A good example is France national team, whose squad comprises of Kylian Mbappe (Cameroonian and Algerian roots), N’Golo Kante (Malian roots), Ousmane Dembéle (Senegalese, Malian, and Mauritanian), Steve Mandanda (Democratic Republic of Congo roots), Blaise Matuidi: Angolan and Congolese, Camavinga: Congolese and Angolan, and William Saliba of Cameroonian roots, to mention but a few.
According to Ottamax, who turned out for Harambee Stars and also played for record Kenyan Premier League champions Gor Mahia and rivals AFC Leopards, with most Kenyan footballers migrating to Europe many years back, it would be fair for FKF to consider some of their kids, who have already shown they can play football, with a chance to represent their national teams.
Ottamax further gave a good example of striker Divock Origi, who was born in Ostend, Belgium, to a Kenyan father Mike Origi and grew up in Houthalen-Oost. Divock’s father played for Kenya's national team Harambee Stars before relocating to Belgium, where he played for KV Oostende (at the time Divock was born) and Genk, among other Belgian clubs.
Divock’s uncle, the late Austin Oduor Origi, played for Gor Mahia in the Kenyan Premier League, while his other uncles, Gerald and Anthony, played for Tusker. His cousin, Arnold Origi, was a professional player, who was capped for the Kenyan national team as a goalkeeper.
Despite having represented Belgium at under-15, under-16, under-17, under-19 and under-21 level, and scored 10 goals while in the under-19 team, the first in a 2013 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification match against Belarus on October 12th, 2012, the then FKF office expressed an interest in persuading Origi to play for Harambee Stars in the future.
However, on May 13th, 2014, the then Belgium senior national team manager Marc Wilmots announced Origi would be part of the 23-man squad representing Belgium at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Origi came on as a substitute for Romelu Lukaku in the 58th minute of the opening Group H game against Algeria in Belo Horizonte. In Belgium’s second match, again after coming on as a substitute for Lukaku, he scored his first senior international goal in the 88th minute of a 1-0 win over Russia to qualify the Red Devils for the knockout stage.
Kenya must avoid Origi heartache in the future
While recommending the FKF office led by Hussein Mohammed for taking up the initiative, Ottamax believes that the federation should cast their net even wider and involve as many players (with Kenyan roots) as possible for the benefit of Harambee Stars.
“With the dwindling fortunes in our football due to poor management and lack of concern by the governments in place, some of my former teammates sought refuge in foreign countries either to continue with their footballing careers or dumped football for studies to secure their future. And with that, came their little known families,” Ottamax told Flashscore.
“One remarkable name is that of Mike Okoth Origi, Kenya's prolific goal scorer in the days of coach Reinhardt Fabisch. Okoth’s son is a world renowned footballer Divock Origi, a Champions’ League Finals goal scorer and winner with Liverpool. Sadly though, Divock chose to play for Belgium over Kenya. You can’t blame Divock for his choice but the shambles that was the state of our game and management.”
Ottamax added: “Hussein (Mohammed) and his team since taking over office, have strived to bring in positive changes, some that were previously overlooked by the previous regime, though I can say we learn better from our predecessors’ mistakes. It’s never a competition but lessons of avoidance."
He continued: “Why am I saying this? We’ve seen some positive adjustments in fans turnout in stadiums and more enthusiasm to the build-up to and after our local and international matches. What we are yet to witness are resounding results in the scoreboard which I believe will come with time.
“Another notable thing is the inclusivity approach especially at the youth level. This has seen footballers of Kenyan origin living and playing in the diaspora freely getting invitations to fight for a fair chance to represent their motherland Kenya.”
Kenya’s U20 national team is currently in camp preparing for the upcoming TotalEnergies U20 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), set to kick off on April 27, 2025, in Egypt. The head coach had already summoned a provisional squad of 35 players for residential training, and among those is forward Jayden Nzau Nzoka, who plays for IK Viljan in Sweden. Nzoka, who was born in Sweden, scored 27 goals and provided four assists in 36 appearances during the 2022/23 season.
“Jayden Nzoka Nzau is one such player,” added Ottamax. “Jayden is a son to former Re-Union, AFC Leopards, Volcano United and Harambee Stars midfield maestro Charles Tigana Nzau. Like we say, an apple doesn't fall far from the tree. Those who watched Nzau play in his heyday, won’t doubt the potentials of the fruit of his loins.”
Ottamax further offered: “We still have Wycliff Aguda, son of another former Kenyan international midfield marshall John ‘Baresi’ Odhiambo, who is tormenting defenders in the USA. At one point I asked ‘Baresi’ to bring Wycky to Kenya and play for a top local club, when he thought the US amateur league where his son played was way too modest to gauge his full potential. I had watched the talent and I knew what the young chap could do and the openings that were there for him if he adjusted to coming to Kenya.”
Ottamax further urged FKF to pursue the example of former Arsenal captain and current Saudi Pro League club Al Qadsiah, Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who recently was the chief tormentor, with a brace, as Gabon defeated Kenya 2-1 in a 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifying fixture at Nyayo Stadium.
Born in France, Aubameyang chose to represent Gabon at international level, making his senior debut in 2009 at the age of 19; and with 33 goals so far, he is the nation’s all-time top scorer. He represented Gabon at four Africa Cup of Nations tournaments and the 2012 Summer Olympics. In 2016, he was named African Footballer of the Year; the first Gabonese and second European-born player to win the award.
“Just recently, one such player, a Gabonese, tormented us right in our own backyard. The said player could have chosen to play for France or wherever else his parents worked or lived, but Pierre Emerick Aubameyang humbly chose Gabon, and he single-handedly sent us back to our homes with wretched faces,” concluded Ottamax.
Apart from Nzau, other players that have been considered for the U20 team include Stanley Wilson (AIK – Sweden), Zech Obiero (Leyton Orient-England), Jeremy Bissau (Brooke House College – Leicester England), and Luis Ingavi (Saginaw Valley State – USA).
