FKF Unveils Four-Year Strategy to Boost Women's Football in Kenya

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has unveiled a comprehensive four-year strategy aimed at elevating women's football in Kenya. The plan, launched in Nairobi, focuses on developing the sport from grassroots to national levels. This move comes after the Harambee Starlets qualified for the Women's Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) finals for the first time in 10 years and the Junior Starlets reached the quarterfinals of the Under-17 World Cup in Morocco.

The strategy has five key pillars, starting with grassroots development for girls aged six and above, progressing to Centers of Excellence, and including commercial partnerships for the Kenya Women's Premier League (KWPL). Between 2020 and 2025, the FKF reported significant growth in women's football, with the KWPL expanding to 12 teams, the Women's National Super League (WNSL) to 16 teams, and an increase in the number of girls and women participating in FKF-recognized football to over 10,000.

The FKF also highlighted its Women's Football Campaign (WFC), which has reached 2,756 girls in six counties: Turkana, Samburu, Embu, Nairobi, Nakuru, and Busia. The campaign aims to provide opportunities for girls and women in sports, with a focus on coaching, officiating, and safety. The initiative has trained 237 female coaches, 17 female referees, and 12 safety officials.

The launch event was attended by Gender, Culture, and Children’s Services Minister, Hanna Wendot Cheptumo, who praised the FKF for developing a strategy that recognizes the importance of investment, talent development, and competition. She called for collaboration between the FKF, national and county governments, schools, development partners, and the private sector to implement the strategy.

FKF President Hussein Mohamed emphasized that the strategy is a call to action, not just a policy document. He stated that the federation is committed to creating an environment where every girl who wants to play football has the opportunity and a clear pathway to achieve her dreams. The strategy includes plans to expand participation, strengthen youth development, professionalize competitions, and create sustainable business opportunities.

The FKF plans to implement the strategy through various initiatives, including annual talent searches for girls aged 6-12 in 12 counties, with a goal of reaching 7,200 girls by 2029. The federation will also establish two national centers of excellence by 2027, introduce mandatory licensing for KWPL clubs in 2026 and WNSL clubs in 2027, and provide coaching, refereeing, and scouting programs for women.

Key Point: The FKF strategy aims to increase participation and improve the quality of women's football in Kenya.

Key points

• The strategy includes plans to establish two national centers of excellence by 2027 and introduce mandatory licensing for clubs.