A Lack of Stable Stewardship; Harambee Stars has hired nearly 40 coaches in 60 years

Written by Oscar Ochieng and Jairus Kedogo

In recent years, organizations have increasingly overlooked the crucial role of “stable stewards”—long-serving employees who ensure stability and continuity within the organization. These individuals, often behind the scenes, act as custodians of institutional knowledge and culture, safeguarding the organization during transitions and passing it on to the next generation of staff.

Alex Hill, in his book Centennials, suggests a critical insight “The shorter the tenure of employees, the shorter the organization's lifespan and the lower its profit margin”. While some argue that frequent leadership changes are necessary to remove underperformers, Hill points out that the real issue lies in the lack of continuity itself.

Struggling organizations often cycle through multiple CEOs before collapsing or never achieving their set goals, not necessarily because of poor hires but because of the disruption caused by constant turnover. Stable stewards provide a much-needed anchor, ensuring that the philosophy and long-term strategies remain intact even during leadership transitions.

The instability in leadership has been a major hurdle for Kenya's national football team, Harambee Stars. Over the years, the team has cycled through numerous coaches, resulting in a lack of a consistent philosophy and style of play. This instability has inevitably impacted the team’s performance, leading to poor results.

In stark contrast, Senegal offers a compelling example of the benefits of stability. Since taking charge in 2015, national team coach Aliou Cissé has been one of the longest-serving managers in African football. Under his leadership, Senegal achieved historic milestones, including their first-ever Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) title in 2021 and another final appearance in 2019. Cissé also led the team to consecutive FIFA World Cups in 2018 and 2023, solidifying Senegal’s status as a football powerhouse.

Stability

Similarly, Amir Abdou played a pivotal role in transforming Comoros' football fortunes during his tenure from 2014 to 2021. His groundwork helped the team qualify for their first-ever AFCON in 2021. After moving to Mauritania, Abdou guided the team to their first-ever round of 16 appearance at AFCON, building on the foundation laid by Corentin Martins, who spearheaded Mauritania’s football revolution with the support of FIFA Goal project funds.

These examples highlight the value of long-term stability in the dugout. By contrast, Kenya has had 39 managers since 1961 when the national team first played under the newly formed federation. This revolving door of coaches has hindered the team's ability to develop a cohesive strategy and achieve sustained success.

Harambee Stars team during the Mapinduzi Cup 2025. PHOTO @Harambe_Stars

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For Kenya to emulate the success of teams like Senegal and Mauritania, it must prioritize stability and continuity in its technical bench. A consistent philosophy and long-term planning are essential to creating a foundation for future success.

Why Stable Stewards Matter

On October 6, 2007, New Zealand suffered a shocking exit from the Rugby World Cup, losing 20–18 to France in the quarter-finals - widely regarded as one of their worst World Cup performances. In the aftermath, numerous theories emerged to explain the dismal showing. Some critics argued that the team had selected the wrong players and fielded a squad that wasn’t match-fit, while others blamed their tactics, suggesting they focused too heavily on scoring tries rather than taking straightforward penalty opportunities.

After two months of intense debate and discussion, the All Blacks arrived at a different conclusion about their loss. They determined that the real issue was a lack of "stable stewardship"—consistent leadership capable of guiding the team and making decisive choices under pressure.

For the previous two decades, much like Kenya’s Harambee Stars, the All Blacks had been replacing their coach every four years at the start of each World Cup cycle. In cases where a coach was deemed ineffective, they would often make a change in less than two years. They ultimately realized that this constant turnover was not a winning strategy.

Frequent changes in leadership prevent the development of a collective memory within a team. This lack of continuity means lessons learned from one AFCON qualifier are not carried over to the next, and the team misses out on the time required to build the necessary depth of knowledge and strategy.

Teams led by coaches who have been in their roles for more than four years often achieve greater success. A prime example is Hassan Shehata, the former coach of Egypt and one of Africa's most celebrated football managers. Shehata holds the record for the most Africa Cup of Nations titles, having guided Egypt to three consecutive victories between 2006 and 2010.

And the most successful teams are generally the ones where a quarter of the players have been in place for at least six years. Inevitably, stable stewardship and stable team membership tend to go hand in hand. Fresh talent is always needed, but world-beating success demands continuity too.

As the national team prepares for CHAN and AFCON, they must recognize that there is no quick fix if they aim to progress beyond the group stages. Success is a journey that must begin now by retaining experienced players—avoiding the mistake of starting from scratch, which creates a vacuum in leadership and guidance for new talent. The team should also focus on scouting future stars who can not only shine individually but also provide the continuity needed for long-term success. Finally, appointing a coach with a vision to build and lead the team over at least six years is essential to achieving sustained growth and stability.