Nairobi City Stars is a professional football club based in Nairobi, Kenya that currently competes in the first tier Kenyan Premier League.
History The club was founded in 2003 as World Hope Football Club after a majority of players followed head coach Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno from relegated Kawangware United. The club was formed and owned by World Hope International, a charitable organization.
After one season in the Nationwide League, World Hope was promoted to the Kenyan Premier League.
In October 2008, the club was bought by Ambassadors in Sport (AIS Kenya),AIS, May 25, 2009: Nairobi City Stars Appoints new Head Coach who renamed the club to Nairobi City Stars FC after the 2008 season.Daily Nation, October 16, 2008: New owners take over World Hope FC
After the take over Nairobi City Stars was initially coached by German manager Oliver Page, a former Bundesliga player.Daily Nation, November 20, 2008: City Stars unveil new German coach He resigned from the post-half-season in June 2009 despite good results, citing personal issuesKenyafootball, May 25, 2009: Nairobi City Stars Appoints new Head Coach
After a short while under the new owners, the team reverted to Peter Jabuya who would struggle with the team till March 2019 when the club was fully acquired by Jonathan Jackson Foundation, a community-focused setup named after its founder Jonathan Jackson who is a real estate mogul in Kenya and in Europe.The Standard, June 14, 2019: Jackson: Why we bought Nairobi City Stars squad Goal, May 1, 2019: Nairobi City Stars confirm takeover by Jonathan Jackson Foundation Citizen, May 1, 2019: City Stars has new owner; purchase coming after long financial struggles Futaa, June 13, 2019: Former KPL heavyweight owners make a vow ahead of new season Michezo Afrika, May 1, 2019: Hope as Nairobi City Stars gets new owner Daily Active Kenya, May 1, 2019: Just like Wazito, City Stars gets a new owner who will blow their problems away
Upon the change of hands the new owners hired online journalist Patrick Korir as the CEO to streamline the club's operations.SportPesa News, May 1, 2019: Seasoned Local Football Journalist Korir In New City Stars Management Team And in July 2019 the club went searching for a foreign coach and hired Sarajevo-born Sanjin Alagić, a UEFA Pro licensed coach from Bosnia and Herzegovina.
He led the team to the 2019/20 Kenyan National Super League title and automatic promotion back to the Kenyan Premier LeagueNairobi News, May 1, 2020: City Stars raring to go with promotion to KPL Futaa, May 7, 2020: Nairobi City Stars coach Sanjin delighted after promotion to KPL Soka, April 30, 2020: OFFICIAL: GOR MAHIA ARE KPL CHAMPS; CITY STARS PROMOTED after four seasons out.
Alagić exited at the expiry of his contract at the end of June 2021. From September of the same year Nicholas Muyoti was appointed the new coach on a three-year deal.Nairobi City Stars, Sept 17, 2021: Futaa, Sept 17, 2021: Nicholas Muyoti joins Nairobi City Stars The Standard, Sept 17, 2021: Former KK Homeboyz coach Muyoti joins Nairobi City Stars The Star, Sept 18, 2021: Muyoti joins City Stars, ready for a new challenge MichezoAfrika, Sept 17, 2021: Muyoti unveiled as new City Stars Head Coach
Salim BabuPan African Football, 1 Mar 2025 Nairobi City Stars unveil Salim Babu as new head coach took over from Muyoti and served till the expiry of his contract in April 2026 handing over the reigns to Scotland-trained Eugene Ochola who joined the club in 2024 as an apprentice.City Stars, 8 Apr 2026 Club Statement: Salim Babu
Honors Kenya Nationwide League Champions (1): 2003–04 FKF President's Cup Champions (1): 2005 Kenyan National Super League Champions (1): 2019–20
Performance in CAF competitions CAF Confederation Cup: 1 appearance 2006 – Preliminary Round
Current squad
Club officials
Management Chairman Jonathan JacksonChief Executive Patrick KorirTeam Coordinator Samson Otieno
Technical Bench Position NameInterim Head coach Eugene OcholaGoalkeeper coach Ronnie KagunziTeam Manager Calvin MasawaTrainer Arthur MusevePhysio Dennis WandolaKit Manager Dominic Mutiso
Past coaches
Zedekiah 'Zico' Otieno (Sep 2003-Nov 2004) Robert Matano (Nov 2004 - Nov 2007) John “Bobby” Ogolla (Jan-Nov 2008) Oliver Pagé (Nov 2008-May 2009) Kennedy Odhiambo (May 2009-Aug 2011) Gideon Ochieng (Aug 2011-Sep 2012) Bai Malleh Wadda (Sep 2012-June 2013) Charles Omondi (June-Sep 2013) Jan Koops (Sep 2013-Jan 2014) Robinson Ndubuisi (Jan-Apr 2014) Tim Bryett (Apr-Jul 2014) Robinson Ndubuisi (Jul-Dec 2014) Paul Nkata (Jan-June 2015) Gabriel Njoroge (Jul-Sep 2015) Dennis Okoth (Sep-Dec 2015) John “Bobby” Ogolla (Jan-June 2016) Richard Pinto Tamale (Jul-Dec 2016) Robert Matano (Jan-May 2017) Abdul-Samadu Musafiri (Jul-Dec 2017) John Amboko (Jan-Dec 2018) Jimmy Kintu (Jan-Apr 2019) John Amboko (Apr-Jun 2019) Sanjin Alagić (July 2019 - June 2021) John Amboko (Jul-Aug 2019) Nicholas Muyoti (Sept 2021-Jan 2025) Salim Babu (Jan 2025-Apr 2026) Eugene Ochola (Apr 2026-To date)
Notable past players
Victor Wanyama John Mark Makwatta Dan Sserunkuma James Situma Pascal Ochieng Kennedy Odhiambo Thomas Wanyama George Odhiambo Harrison Muranda Collins Tiego Levy Muaka Wesley Onguso George Abege Francis Thairu George Midenyo George Odary Victor Ochieng Erick Ochieng Paul Okatwa Lawrence Kasadha Justus Basweti Kevin Ochieng Noah Abich Edward Karanja Peter Opiyo Anthony Kimani Timothy Ouma Kenedy Onyango Mohammed Bajaber
Top scorers per season Top scorers per season. * Award shared during that season
Year Player Goals*2004-5 Collins Tiego5 Justus Basweti52005-6 Samuel Ouma132006-7 Justus Basweti62008 Arthur Museve72009 Arthur Museve102010 Francis Thairu52011 Dan Sserunkuma72012 Dan Sserunkuma52013 Jimmy Bageya4*2014 Dennis Okoth3 George Abege3 Lawrence Kasadha32015 Ebrimah Sanneh112016 Ezekiel Odera42017 Ezekiel Odera112018 Sande Katumba102018–19 Noah Abich82019–20 Ebrimah Sanneh82020–21 Peter Opiyo82021–22 Ezekiel Odera102022–23 Kelvin Etemesi122023–24 Vincent Owino82024–25 Vincent Owino52025–26 Joshua Amunike8
All time top scorers A list of all-time Nairobi City Stars goal scorers. For players who scored 12 or more goals.
As of 22 February 2026
#PlayerGoals 1 Ezekiel Odera37 2 Justus Basweti35 3 Francis Thairu34 4 Ebrimah Sanneh32 5 Arthur Museve31 6 Jimmy Bageya29 7 Davis Agesa20 8 Kelvin Etemesi19 9 Anthony Kimani17 10 Vincent Owino16 11 Sande Katumba15 12 Samuel Ouma14 13 Peter Opiyo13 14 Dan Sserunkuma12 14 Robert Ndung'u12
Records TypeNatNameRecordMost Premier League appearances (City Stars)John Amboko 221 Most Premier League appearances (overall)Anthony Kimani284The Star, 27 Jun 2023 Nairobi City Stars skipper Kimani retires after 17 yearsMost Premier League goalsJustus Basweti27Most Super League goalsDavis Agesa17Goal, 21 Sep 2020 Nairobi City Stars' NSL top scorer Agesa ready for KPL returnOverall top scorerEzekiel Odera37Most capped playerJames Situma43Most league goals in a Premier League seasonSamuel Ouma13Most goals in a Super League seasonEzekiel Odera11Longest unbeaten Super League run2018/19-2019/20 NSL22 Nation, 16 Dec 2019 Nairobi City Stars suffer first NSL defeatRecord premier league win run2023–24 FKF PL7Nation, 21 Jan 2024 Leopards derail City Stars' title charge, Police down NzoiaRecord victoryvs Vihiga BulletsThe Standard 6 Nov 2021, Nairobi City Stars thrash Vihiga to close gap on K’Ogalo6 Nov 2021 Four Different Scorers for Nairobi City Stars as They Maul Vihiga Bullets vs Kisumu Telkom vs Congo UnitedMichezoafrika 22 Oct 201, City Stars demolish Congo as relegation battle heats up 4-0Record defeatvs Sofapaka F.C.Futaa 7 Aug 2016 Sofapaka 5 City Stars 0 vs Kakamega HomeboyzMichezo Afrika, 14 Feb 2025 Shumah Shines as Homeboyz Humiliate City Stars 5-05-0
Premier League records SeasonPosRecordPWDLFAGDCSPts!2004–058227782223 -17282005–067381413114341216552006–07830119103128311422008730117122531 -6104020096301110930291104320101130713102534 -98342011143087152835 -793120121330611131632 -614292013930711122436 -1293220141530412141835 -17824201514The Standard, 2 Nov 2015 City Stars survives the chop 30610142537 -12728201616Capital FM 31 Oct 2016 City Stars relegated after falling to Homeboyz 30310171739 -227192020-21732129113430411452021-2253314101045341114522022–231534810163749 -12 8342023–246341311104239312502024–251834811152641 -15735Total527150171207488591 -103168621
CS - Clean Sheet
Second tier League records SeasonPosRecordPWDLFAGDCSPts2003-4CHAMPIONS201773612121245423114820187361410124139210522018-191438815154760 -133392019-20CHAMPIONS26204240182214642025-261438912173144 -131139Total174635358204203148242
References
External links Nairobi City Stars GSA Nairobi City Stars Soccerway Nairobi City Stars Livescores
da:Nairobi City Stars