Boost For Kenya as Five More Referees Join FIFA Panel While Top Names are Retained

Joel Omotto 18:28 - 27 January 2026

Kenya will have a strong representation on the 2026 FIFA Referees Panel. Image: Imago

Kenya now has a strong representation on the FIFA Panel of Referees after five more were added while the experienced names retained their places for this year’s assignments.

Kenya has received a boost after five more referees were added to the 2026 FIFA Panel, increasing the country’s tally.

It means Kenya now has FIFA 16 referees who can be assigned various duties in international tournaments around the world.

The list includes four who were at the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations being Peter Waweru Kamaku, Dickens Mimisa, Stephen Yiembe and Gilbert Cheruiyot.

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From the list, Cheruiyot is the longest serving, having joined the FIFA Panel in 2013, followed by Kamaku (2017), Yiembe (2018) and Samuel Kuria Mwangi (2019).

Who Are the New Appointees?

The new entrants are; Isaac Hamisi (centre referee), Edwin Ouma Mangoli (centre referee) and assistants Doreen Kendi Kaburu, Phanuel Ndalila Muyelele and Virginia Wangui.

Kenya now has five women referees on the FIFA Panel with Kaburu and Wangui joining centre referees Lucy Juma Awino, who has been a FIFA referee since 2023, and Josephine Wanjiru (2021) as well as assistant Elizabeth Njoroge, who joined the panel last year.

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The appointments are expected to boost officiating in Kenya as the match officials do not just oversee international matches but also local leagues and also receive high level training.

With major tournaments coming up like the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations, ongoing CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup and FIFA World Cup this year, these match officials are in line to play apart, while there will be the Africa Cup of Nations and FIFA Women’s World Cup in 2027 for them to look forward to.