Francis Kimanzi is a veteran Kenyan football coach and former Mathare United player who has served multiple stints as Harambee Stars head coach and now works as Football Kenya Federation’s development director.
Early Life and Education
Francis Kimanzi was born in 1976 in Kitui County and grew up in the Mlango Kubwa informal settlement in Nairobi, where he first played football on dusty local pitches before joining Mathare United as a teenager.
Details of his formal schooling have not been widely published.
Francis Kimanzi’s Career
Francis Kimanzi began his football career with Mathare United in 1994.
He was among the pioneering members of the club during its formative years and helped establish it as one of Kenya’s most respected football institutions.
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During his playing years, Mathare United won the Moi Golden Cup, now known as the Mozzart Bet Cup, in 1998 and 2000.
He retired from playing in 2002.
Immediately after retirement, Kimanzi transitioned into coaching and took charge of Mathare United in 2002.
This marked the beginning of a coaching career that would make him one of Kenya’s most influential football minds.
His greatest achievement with the club came in 2008 when he guided Mathare United to the Kenyan Premier League title.
The success was widely praised because much of the squad consisted of young players developed through the Mathare Youth Sports Association (MYSA) system.
In May 2008, Kimanzi was appointed caretaker coach of Kenya’s national team before being confirmed as the full-time head coach in December that year.
During this period:
- Kenya achieved its highest-ever FIFA ranking of 68th in December 2008.
- The national team recorded impressive performances under his leadership.
- He worked alongside technical staff, including Yusuf Chipo and James Nandwa, to build a competitive squad.
His first spell ended in January 2009 amid disputes within football administration.
After leaving Harambee Stars, Kimanzi spent a season coaching Sofapaka.
Although brief, the stint further enhanced his reputation within Kenyan football.
In November 2011, Kimanzi returned as head coach of Harambee Stars.
His tenure ended in June 2012 after Kenya failed to qualify for the 2013 Africa Cup of Nations.
Both he and his technical bench were dismissed.
In 2013, Kimanzi later joined Tusker FC, one of Kenya’s most successful clubs.
At Tusker, he continued building his reputation as a tactician who emphasized organization, discipline, and player development.
In 2015, he returned to Mathare United for a second spell.
Following the departure of Sébastien Migné, Kimanzi was appointed Kenya’s national team coach again in August 2019.
This was his third major stint with Harambee Stars.
He was relieved of his duties in October 2020.
After leaving the national team, Kimanzi joined Wazito FC as head coach in November 2020.
Following the departure of Engin Firat, Kimanzi returned as interim Harambee Stars coach in late 2024.
He supervised the team during the Mapinduzi Cup and helped manage the transition before South African legend Benni McCarthy was appointed head coach in 2025.
In March 2025, Football Kenya Federation appointed Kimanzi as Football Development Director.
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FKF said his two decades of coaching experience made him ideal to strengthen football structures, nurture talent, and drive the game’s long-term growth in Kenya.
Coach Educator and Technical Expert
Francis Kimanzi holds a UEFA A Coaching License and is recognized as one of Kenya’s leading football technical experts.
He has served as a Football Kenya Federation (FKF) coach educator, helping train and mentor coaches through technical development programs.
In 2024, the Federation of Uganda Football Associations (FUFA) invited him to facilitate Uganda’s first CAF A Diploma Coaching Course under the new CAF coaching convention, citing his experience and expertise in coach education.
Family and Net Worth
Official FKF records, FIFA records, and major media profiles contain no publicly verified information about Francis Kimanzi’s wife, children, or immediate family.
No publicly verified net worth figure exists for Francis Kimanzi.
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