FIFA has officially confirmed sixteen Kenyan match officials to the FIFA-approved refereeing list for the 2026 calendar year.
This follows the successful completion of the FIFA MA Elite Referees Course held in October 2025 which served as the final assessment for both veterans and ambitious newcomers.
The 2026 roster reflects a significant expansion of Kenya’s officiating talent, with five new officials earning their international badges for the first time.
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FIFA confirms list of 16 Kenyan match officials approved for 2026
The new inductees include center referees Isaac Hamisi and Edwin Mang’oli, alongside assistant referees Doreen Kendi, Virginia Waithera, and Phanuel Muyelele.
The bulk of the 2026 list remains anchored by eleven retained officials who have consistently represented the country on the global stage.
Leading this experienced group is Dr Peter Waweru Kamaku, a university lecturer who has been on the FIFA list since 2017, and Gilbert Cheruiyot, the longest-serving member of the team with a tenure dating back to 2013.
Joining them are fellow center referees Dickens Mimisa, Josephine Wanjiku, Lucy Juma, and Kevin Maina.
The assistant referee rank has seen retention of Stephen Yiembe, Samuel Kuria, Boniface Karanja, Adam Nyongesa, and Elizabeth Njoroge.
The 2026 list also marks the end of an era for several prominent figures in Kenyan officiating. Three officials Erick Njogu, Brooke Phillips, and Oliver Odhiambo were dropped from the roster due to performance following the 2025 calendar.
Additionally the refereeing unite bid farewell to veteran assistant referees Mary Njoroge and Caroline Kiles, both of whom have officially retired from the international scene after distinguished careers.
Kenya continues to grow its footprint in modern officiating, with Peter Waweru Kamaku and Dickens Mimisa remaining the only two officials certified as Video Match Officials (VMOs).
The diversity of the 16-man squad is also notable; the country currently boasts seven center referees, including two women Josephine Wanjiku and Lucy Juma while the male contingent consists of Kamaku, Mimisa, Hamisi, Maina, and Mang’oli.
The remaining nine officials will serve as assistant referees.
Kenyan referees will be looking to impress during a packed international calendar of 2026.
Already, the celebrated quartet of Stephen Yiembe, Peter Kamaku, Dickens Mimisa, and Gilbert Cheruiyot is in Morocco for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
The upcoming year features the 2026 Women’s Africa Cup of Nations (WAFCON), which Kenya has qualified for, alongside the CAF Champions League and Confederation Cup.
However, the ultimate prize remains the 2026 FIFA World Cup in June in the USA, Canada and Mexico.