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Kenya, over the years, has produced some of the greatest personalities in the athletics world. But while most people across the world associate the country with marathoners, it’s easy to forget the footballing talents that have come through.
The country has produced some of the best strikers in modern African football. Not only that, Kenya has to lead the way in terms of footballing talent in East and Central Africa, with the likes of Victor Wanyama currently wearing the white of Tottenham Hotspur.
With that in mind, let’s have a look at some of the best strikers that Kenya has produced this decade.
#5 Paul Were Ooko
One of the current stars on the national side and an amazing football export from Kenya today is Paul Were. The 26-year-old has scored three goals for the Harambee Stars in 29 appearances. Though, he usually has to make do with a place on the wings.
He started his career at the FISA academy before making a familiar move to Mathare United in 2009. He then got his break in the KPL with Tusker FC in 2010 before getting a move to AFC Leopards.
In 2014, Were got a long-awaited move outside the country to AmaZulu in South Africa. That move didn’t go on too well and Were made a move to Greek side Kalloni in 2015. He has since made a move to various sides in Greece and Turkey before moving back to the KPL. He's played for KPL giants AFC leopards since then
Those many moves may get you questioning why he’s on the list, but you just don’t become a mainstay in the Harambee Stars squad for no reason.
4. Allan Wanga
Another journeyman in Kenyan football on this list is Allan Wanga. An obviously talented forward with all the ability to make it at the very top. He started his career at St Paul’s high school before making a move to Lolwe in 2005.
He then earned a move to Tusker after impressive displays for Lolwe. At Tusker, he played 23 games, scoring 21 goals in the process and it was a matter of time before making a move abroad.
He then earned his move to Petro Atletico in 2008 and he played 35 matches for them, scoring 19 goals. He then got moves to FC Baku and Hoang Anh Gia Lai before returning to the KPL.
While playing for AFC Leopards in the KPL, Wanga scored 29 goals in 34 appearances before getting a move abroad again. In 2014 he moved to Al-Merreikh where he made 18 appearances scoring 11 goals. Wanga continued to impress before moving to Azam then back to the KPL this time with Tusker FC then Kakamega Homeboyz where he is now sporting director.
Wanga has an impressive 22 goals for his national side, with that feat being achieved in 44 games.
3. George Odhiambo
While studying for his high school certificate, George Odhiambo was also tearing teams apart with Gor Mahia. He was so mesmerising that a good number of fans questioned why he was still in school. He was also seen at the time as the next best thing to come out of Kenyan football.
He scored an amazing 18 goals in 43 appearances for Gor between 2009-2011 and that prompted a move to Randers. That move, however, didn’t bear the fruits it was meant to and after moves to several teams, he’s now back at Gor. He came back to Gor in 2014 and since then has become a centerpiece of their playing style.
Winning 5 KPL title since his return, Odhiambo has also become a huge figure for the national side.
2. Michael Olunga
The current cream of the crop when it comes to Kenyan strikers is Michael Olunga. Olunga started his career as a schoolboy for Liberty Sports Academy where he scored a whopping 32 goals in one season. That prompted the top sides in the league to start looking at him.
He got a move (on loan) to Tusker in 2013 where he didn’t impress much. He only scored three goals in 15 appearances for the club. The following year, he secured another loan to KPL side Thika United where after 26 appearances, he scored nine goals. That still didn’t propel any big move as you’d have expected.
The following year, with Liberty knowing they have a talent on their hands, Olunga got a loan move to Gor Mahia. Now, Gor were going in for their 15th KPL title and needed a natural finisher, and luckily for them, Olunga stepped up.
He scored 19 goals that season in 27 appearances and his team Gor went the entire season undefeated. He was now making headlines after he was awarded the Player of the Season, which led to a move to Swedish side Djurgardens IF. There, he went on to score 12 goals in 27 matches which led to a move to Chinese side Guizhou Zhicheng where he scored two goals in nine matches.
He got a loan move to Spanish side Girona in 2017 and managed three goals in La Liga after 14 appearances. To date, he leads the Kenyan line admirably.
1. Dennis Oliech
Arguably, Dennis Oliech is Kenya’s best, striker. Not only is he the country’s top scorer, but during his prime, but he was unplayable. During his highlight, Oliech carried the country’s footballing hopes and had all eyes set on him. He didn’t disappoint either as he went on to score a massive 34 goals for his country in just 74 appearances.
He started his career at Mathare United where he was impressive and that earned him a move to Qatar side Al-Arabi. Initially, he had had a successful trial with French side Marseille and only a block from Mathare United chairman scampered the move.
After Qatar where he scored 12 goals in 17 appearances, he made his European move to French side Nantes in 2005. He went on to make 32 appearances for the club, scoring a dismal four goals for them.
Oliech then earned a move to Auxerre where he finally bloomed. While at Auxerre, he became the first Kenyan player to play in the Champions League. He went on to play 165 games for the club scoring 25 goals, all while playing as a winger.
In 2013, he secured a move to Ajaccio where he made 50 appearances. Now, in the twilight of his career, Oliech made a move to Dubai where he played for Dubai CSC in 2015.
In 2019, he finally made the long-awaited move back home and to straight to Gor Mahia where he played 10 games and scored fie goals before he was fired by the club.
