Etienne Ndayiragije: Burundian Coach Who Turned Kenya Police from Relegation Candidates to Title Winners

Etienne Ndayiragije revivied Police FC from relegation zone to title win. Photos: Police FC

Etienne Ndayiragije: Burundian Coach Who Turned Kenya Police from Relegation Candidates to Title Winners

Joel Omotto 15:30 - 16.06.2025

Kenya Police are celebrating FKF Premier League title triumph but they would have been fighting relegation were it not for their decision to hire a little-known Burundian coach.

Kenya Police are currently celebrating their first-ever FKF Premier League title but this would perhaps not have happened had they not acted decisively late last year.

Police beat Shabana 1-0 on Sunday to be crowned as they ended Gor Mahia’s reign and this win was masterminded by Burundian coach Etienne Ndayiragije who joined the club in late November 2024.

The law enforcers dismissed Salim Babu and his entire technical bench in November following a string of poor results that had made relegation a real possibility.

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Ndayiragije Found Police in Relegation Zone

At the time, Police were in 17th position, level on points with bottom-placed Posta Rangers, having won just one of their opening seven matches of the season while drawing five.

At the time, all that was needed was to stabilise the team and improve their form and few expected what would follow next.

Amidst speculation that a local or former AFC Leopards coach Patrick Aussems would be handed the reins, Police pulled a surprise by handing Ndayiragije the job, a man who was little-known in Kenya.

How Did Burundian Coach Turn It Around?

However, Police seem to have done their homework well as the former Tanzania and Burundi national team coach, who had also handled Vital' O FC in Burundi, Azam FC as well as Rwandan outfit Bugesera FC began to quietly work his magic.

Ndayiragije put an emphasis on discipline within the squad and defensive solidity ensuring that his side scored first and did not allow the opponents a chance and he started to see an upturn in form.

Police went on an unbelievable run of 13 matches without defeat between December and mid-February, winning 10 and drawing three, which put them among the top three on the table.

That brought back belief that a title win could be possible and they never relented. In the final months of the season, Police would drop some points but they were helped by the fact that title rivals Tusker and Gor Mahia were also throwing away easy points.

Gor Mahia and Tusker Made Police’s Job Easy

Since losing 1-0 to Mathare United on February 20 to end their 13-match unbeaten run, Police would play 10 more league games before Sunday’s encounter with Shabana, winning six and losing two but Gor Mahia and Tusker never utilised the dropped points from the law enforcers.

The 46-year-old Bujumbura-born tactician stayed humble but told his players to believe and what looked impossible ended up being possible in the most unlikely of ways.

Police have been spending big in the transfer market but did not land their hands on the title as a host of experienced and big-name coaches failed to deliver but when they turned to the little-known Ndayiragije, a first league title arrived.

Pressure will now be on the Burundian to retain the title next season while there will be hopes of better performances in the CAF Champions League even if it will be their first time in the prestigious competition.