Ken Kenyatta Aims to Transform Kakamega Homeboyz Amid Gor Mahia’s Dominance
Retired Harambee Stars goalkeeper and newly appointed Kakamega Homeboyz head coach, Ken Kenyatta, is filled with optimism as he steps into his new role for the 2024/25 season. Kenyatta, officially unveiled at Abana Abeingo on Friday, is setting his sights on silverware and is determined to build on the foundation laid by his predecessor, Patrick Odhiambo.
Odhiambo, who led the team to an FKF Cup victory in the 2022/2023 season, recently departed to join KCB. During his unveiling, Kenyatta expressed respect for the competition but emphasized the critical importance of preparation and hard work.
“I respect other teams because everyone wants to be a champion, but preparation and readiness will determine who lifts the title at the end of the season,” Kenyatta said, according to The Star.
Confident in the quality of his squad, Kenyatta acknowledged the need for reinforcements following the departure of several senior players at the end of last season. With a one-year contract in hand, Kenyatta will be supported by assistant coach Dancun Omondi. The coaching staff remains largely unchanged, with John Waw continuing as the goalkeeping coach and Boniface Imbenzi retaining his position as team manager.
Kenyatta is well aware of the high expectations surrounding the team, especially after their recent success.
“Homeboyz have tasted the FKF Cup title, and expectations are high. This means we have to work extra hard. Everyone loves to be associated with gold, but very few understand the difficult process it takes to achieve the finished product,” Kenyatta added.
Bringing over two decades of coaching experience, Kenyatta is no stranger to challenges. He previously coached Ushuru FC, leading them to the 2013 FKF Premier League in dramatic fashion after a comeback against Posta Rangers. Despite being 2-0 down, his team fought back to draw 2-2 in normal time and eventually won 5-4 in a penalty shootout. Unfortunately, the club, later renamed Ushuru FC, folded in 2020.
Kenyatta’s next role was with Talanta FC, where he guided the team to the FKF Premier League by winning the National Super League title in 2021. However, his tenure ended on a disappointing note when he was sacked towards the end of the last season due to poor results. Despite this setback, Kenyatta’s coaching skills were recognized when he was named the NSL Coach of the Year in 2021.
Though he has yet to secure a major title, Kenyatta is highly regarded for his talent development, and he aims to bring that expertise to Kakamega Homeboyz as they aim to challenge the dominance of Gor Mahia in the upcoming season.
