NAIROBI, Kenya, November 4, 2026 – The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has officially launched its Women’s Football Strategy (2026–2029), rolling out a transformative four-year roadmap designed to fix leaky talent pipelines, commercialize domestic leagues, and expand grassroots access across every county.
Speaking at the launch event held at the Weston Hotel in Nairobi, FKF Women’s Football Administrative Manager and Head of the Women’s Desk, Neddy Atieno, presented the federation’s ambitious mandate alongside Gender, Culture, and Children Services Cabinet Secretary Hanna Cheptumo, FKF President Hussein Mohammed, and FIFA Senior Member Association Development Manager for North and East Africa, Abigail Hailey Michael.
Rather than treating the strategy as a static document, Atieno emphasized that the plan contains strict timelines, actionable targets, and designated accountability metrics to elevate Kenyan women’s football from grassroots participation to continental dominance.
“A girl in Lamu or Garissa deserves the exact same chance to play in a structured, safe football environment as a girl in Nairobi. We will no longer allow players to get lost between school games and the national team,” the former Harambee Starlets striker said.
A central theme of the 2026–2029 strategy is eliminating the talent drop-off that historically plagues promising young athletes between school competitions and elite senior football.
To fix this, FKF is launching a dedicated national Under-17 Women’s League to bridge the gap between school-level games and senior club transitions.
Additionally, the federation announced plans to host a FIFA Under-15 Women’s Football Campaign and Festival next year, mirroring the successful boys’ program, to ensure early scouting and talent identification across all 47 counties.
By 2027, the federation aims to establish two dedicated Centers of Excellence for women’s football alongside a specialized Women’s Talent Development Scheme.
To drive domestic league sustainability, FKF is rolling out concrete operational updates for the Women’s Premier League (KWPL).
Under the League Development program, one of seven FIFA Women Development Programs secured by the Women’s Desk, FKF has already begun catering directly for pitchside ambulances during WPL fixtures to ensure player safety.
To boost fan engagement and brand value, the federation is introducing “Super Sundays”,a centralized matchday format featuring clustered fixtures, live broadcasts, and elevated media coverage to attract commercial broadcast partners and corporate sponsors to the domestic top flight.
The strategy builds upon a strong year of international performances for Kenya’s national teams and clubs.
Harambee Starlets secured qualification for the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON) under head coach Jacqueline Juma, while the Junior Starlets made history by reaching the Round of 16 at the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup.
Domestically, Kenya Police Bullets delivered a strong regional showing, finishing as runners-up in the CECAFA qualifiers.
The 2026–2029 strategy is anchored on five strategic pillars:
Participation & Grassroots: Nationwide expansion ensuring equal opportunity in every county by 2027.
Elite Competition & Player Pathway: Establishing two Centers of Excellence, an U17 League, and a Talent Development Scheme.
Commercial Visibility: Securing broadcasting partners, packaging TV deals, and launching ‘Super Sundays’.
Capacity Building & Leadership: Continuous technical and administrative mentorship, including late-performance coaching certification for U17 coach Mildred Cheche.
