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), who renamed the club to Nairobi City Stars FC after the 2008 season.

After the take over Nairobi City Stars was initially coached by German manager Oliver Page, a former Bundesliga player. He resigned from the post-half-season in June 2009 despite good results, citing personal issues

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.

Upon the change of hands the new owners hired online journalist Patrick Korir as the CEO to streamline the club's operations. 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 League 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.

Honors

Performance in CAF competitions

2006 – Preliminary Round

Current squad

As of 30 Jan 2025.

Note: Flags indicate national team as defined under FIFA eligibility rules; some limited exceptions apply. Players may hold more than one non-FIFA nationality.

No.Pos.NationPlayer
No. Pos. Nation Player 1 GK KEN Edwin Mukolwe 13 GK KEN Elvis Ochoro 32 GK KEN Byron Owino 2 DF KEN Salim Odeka 4 DF KEN Timothy Muganda 6 DF KEN Brian Opinde 8 DF KEN Calvin Masawa 12 DF KEN Edwin Buliba 15 DF KEN Jimmy Mbugua 21 DF KEN Rogers Wasega 22 DF TAN Stephen Bulugu 30 DF KEN Rowland Makati 3 MF KEN Sven Yidah 14 MF KEN Joseph MwangiNo. Pos. Nation Player 16 MF KEN Elvis Noor 18 MF KEN Kevin Simiyu 19 MF KEN Vincent Owino 25 MF KEN Brian Mzee 31 MF KEN Abuyeka Kubasu 5 FW KEN Robinson Asenwa 9 FW KEN Hansel Ochieng 10 FW KEN Dennis Oalo 17 FW KEN Brian Nyambane 20 FW KEN Kelvin Etemesi 11 FW KEN Maxwell Odada 27 FW KEN Gilbert Abala 29 FW KEN Benjamin Mosha
1GKKENEdwin Mukolwe
13GKKENElvis Ochoro
32GKKENByron Owino
2DFKENSalim Odeka
4DFKENTimothy Muganda
6DFKENBrian Opinde
8DFKENCalvin Masawa
12DFKENEdwin Buliba
15DFKENJimmy Mbugua
21DFKENRogers Wasega
22DFTANStephen Bulugu
30DFKENRowland Makati
3MFKENSven Yidah
14MFKENJoseph Mwangi
No.Pos.NationPlayer
16MFKENElvis Noor
18MFKENKevin Simiyu
19MFKENVincent Owino
25MFKENBrian Mzee
31MFKENAbuyeka Kubasu
5FWKENRobinson Asenwa
9FWKENHansel Ochieng
10FWKENDennis Oalo
17FWKENBrian Nyambane
20FWKENKelvin Etemesi
11FWKENMaxwell Odada
27FWKENGilbert Abala
29FWKENBenjamin Mosha

Club officials

Management

ChairmanKenya Jonathan Jackson
Chief ExecutiveKenya Patrick Korir
Team CoordinatorKenya Samson Otieno

Technical Bench

PositionName
Head coachKenya Salim Babu
Assistant coachKenya Peter Opiyo
Assistant coach & Game AnalystKenya Patrick Gitagia
Goalkeeper coachKenya Abel Omuhaya
Team ManagerKenya Ronnie Kagunzi
Security Officer & TrainerKenya Arthur Museve
PhysioKenya Brian Otieno Odongo
Kit ManagerKenya Dominic Mutiso

Past coaches

Notable past players

Top scorers per season

Top scorers per season. * Award shared during that season

YearPlayerGoals
*2004-5Kenya Collins Tiego5
Kenya Justus Basweti5
2005-6Kenya Samuel Ouma13
2006-7Kenya Justus Basweti6
2008Kenya Arthur Museve7
2009Kenya Arthur Museve10
2010Kenya Francis Thairu5
2011Uganda Dan Sserunkuma7
2012Uganda Dan Sserunkuma5
2013Uganda Jimmy Bageya4
*2014Kenya Dennis Okoth3
Uganda George Abege3
Uganda Lawrence Kasadha3
2015The Gambia Ebrimah Sanneh11
2016Kenya Ezekiel Odera4
2017Kenya Ezekiel Odera11
2018Uganda Sande Katumba10
2018–19Kenya Noah Abich8
2019–20The Gambia Ebrimah Sanneh8
2020–21Kenya Peter Opiyo8
2021–22Kenya Ezekiel Odera10
2022–23Kenya Kelvin Etemesi12
2023–24Kenya Vincent Owino8
2024–25Kenya Vincent Owino5

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
1Kenya Ezekiel Odera37
2Kenya Justus Basweti35
3Kenya Francis Thairu34
4The Gambia Ebrimah Sanneh32
5Kenya Arthur Museve31
6Uganda Jimmy Bageya29
7Kenya Davis Agesa20
8Kenya Kelvin Etemesi19
9Kenya Anthony Kimani17
10Kenya Vincent Owino16
11Uganda Sande Katumba15
12Kenya Samuel Ouma14
13Kenya Peter Opiyo13
14Uganda Dan Sserunkuma12
14Kenya Robert Ndung'u12

Records

TypeNatNameRecord
Most Premier League appearances (City Stars)KenyaJohn Amboko221
Most Premier League appearances (overall)KenyaAnthony Kimani284
Most Premier League goalsKenyaJustus Basweti27
Most Super League goalsKenyaDavis Agesa17
Overall top scorerKenyaEzekiel Odera37
Most capped playerKenyaJames Situma43
Most league goals in a Premier League seasonKenyaSamuel Ouma13
Most goals in a Super League seasonKenyaEzekiel Odera11
Longest unbeaten Super League runKenya2018/19-2019/20 NSL22
Record premier league win runKenya2023–24 FKF PL7
Record victoryKenyavs Vihiga Bullets vs Kisumu Telkom vs Congo United4-0
Record defeatKenyavs Sofapaka F.C. vs Kakamega Homeboyz5-0

Premier League records

SeasonPosRecord
PWDLFAGDCSPts!
2004–058227782223-1728
2005–06738141311434121655
2006–0783011910312831142
2008730117122531-61040
200963011109302911043
20101130713102534-9834
2011143087152835-7931
20121330611131632-61429
2013930711122436-12932
20141530412141835-17824
20151430610142537-12728
20161630310171739-22719
2020-2173212911343041145
2021-225331410104534111452
2022–231534810163749-12834
2023–24634131110423931250
2024–251834811152641-15735
Total527150171207488591-103168621

CS - Clean Sheet

Second tier League records

SeasonPosRecord
PWDLFAGDCSPts
2003-04CHAMPIONS
2017736121212454231148
2018736141012413921052
2018-191438815154760-13339
2019-20CHAMPIONS2620424018221464
Total1365441411731591437203

External links

  • GSA
  • Soccerway