How Manzur Okwaro, Amos Wanjala and Aldrine Kibet’s Transfers Could Transform Harambee Stars

In recent years, Kenya has not had multiple players featuring in the five major leagues in Europe with McDonald Mariga, Dennis Oliech, Victor Wanyama the ones who broke the glass ceiling.

Mariga played in the Italian Serie A and Spanish La Liga, Oliech in the French Ligue 1 while Wanyama was the first and still the only Kenyan to play in the English Premier League.

Michael Olunga briefly played in La Liga while Joseph Okumu was in Ligue 1 for two seasons before Stade de Reims were relegated last season.

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However, in recent months, there have been transfers of young Kenyan players to Europe that is giving the country hope of a formidable Harambee Stars in the near future.

Last July, Aldrine Kibet signed for Celta Vigo while this month, Manzur Okwaro has joined Okumu at Reims days before Amos Wanjala signed for Valencia.

While these players have joined the second-string sides, they have a chance of playing for the senior teams in coming years, which will see them square it off against some of the best in the world.

They will also be trained at high level facilities and by some of the best coaches, elevating their football skills not just physically but their way of thinking.

With the likes of Lawrence Okoth (SJK Akatemia, Finland), Collins Ochieng (AC Horsens, Denmark), Stanley Wilson (AIK, Sweden) also in Europe these youngsters are gaining top class training that will benefit the national team in the coming years.

To make it even better, they play in key areas of the pitch with Wanjala, a central defender, Okwaro (central midfield), Kibet (attacking midfield) and Okoth, a striker. It means the next crop of Harambee Stars will comprise players playing in some of the best leagues in Europe, something that the country has not had in plenty before.

This can only ignite hope of a transformation in the national team given what has been witnessed on the continent with countries like Ivory Coast, Morocco, Nigeria and African champions Senegal benefiting from having a strong core of players who play their trade in major leagues in Europe.

While the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations is too soon for this generation of young Kenyan players to produce, the 2028 edition and the next one in 2032, could be the time when the country starts to reap the fruits of the current transfers.