The Kenya national football team, nicknamed the Harambee Stars, represents Kenya in international association football and is governed by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF). Football's administrative roots in Kenya stretch back to the colonial era, with the original Kenya Football Federation (KFF) established in 1946 and affiliated to FIFA in 1960. The domestic top-flight league, now known as the Kenya Premier League, was founded in 1963 and has since shaped the country's football culture through clubs such as Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards, and Tusker FC.
The federation's history has been marked by significant institutional turbulence. The KFF was suspended by FIFA in October 2006 following disputes over governmental interference in football administration. A restructured body, Football Kenya Limited (FKL), was recognised by FIFA in 2008, before being reconstituted as the Football Kenya Federation in 2011 and formally approved by FIFA, CAF, and CECAFA in 2012. A further FIFA suspension was imposed in February 2022 over renewed concerns about governmental interference, though this was lifted in November 2022 after the government moved to restore the federation's independence.
On the pitch, the Harambee Stars achieved a notable milestone in 2019 by qualifying for the Africa Cup of Nations — their first appearance at that tournament in eight editions. The women's national team, the Harambee Starlets, made their AFCON debut in 2016 and won the CECAFA Women's Championship in 2019. Domestic football remains anchored by a passionate rivalry between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, one of the most celebrated derbies on the African continent.