Kenya Police part ways with coaches Nicholas Muyoti, John Baraza after two matches

Kenya Police part ways with coaches Nicholas Muyoti, John Baraza after two matches

The decision comes after Police opened the campaign without a win, drawing 1-1 with Migori Youth before suffering a 2-1 defeat to AFC Leopards at Nyayo National Stadium on Tuesday.

Kenya Police FC have parted ways with head coach Nicholas Muyoti and his assistant John Baraza just two matches into the 2026/27 FKF Premier League season, with the club saying the duo have left to pursue CAF-A coaching qualifications.

The decision comes after Police opened the campaign without a win, drawing 1-1 with Migori Youth before suffering a 2-1 defeat to AFC Leopards at Nyayo National Stadium on Tuesday.

In a statement, the club said Muyoti and Baraza joined Kenya Police on the understanding that they would be released whenever an opportunity arose to advance their coaching credentials.

Both coaches currently hold CAF-B licences and have activated their request to pursue CAF-A coaching classes.

“The club has consented to their requests and recognises that the coaching dynamics are shifting,” the club said, adding that it expects CAF-A licensing to soon become mandatory for coaches in charge of Kenya Premier League teams.

Their departure follows a disappointing start for Police, who were unable to turn their opening two fixtures into a victory.

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Against Migori Youth, they were held to a draw before AFC Leopards inflicted their first defeat of the season in a dramatic encounter at Nyayo.

Leopards took the lead four minutes after the restart when Kevin Luke Otiala struck in the 49th minute. Police responded through Elvis Rupia around the hour mark, the striker finishing from Edward Omondi's cutback after the midfielder reached the byline.

Police were then denied a chance to take control of the contest as Leopards pushed for a winner, with Ronald Sichenje scoring in stoppage time to hand Ingwe a 2-1 victory.

The defeat came after a controversial first-half incident in which Tyson Otieno appeared to have scored for Leopards, only for the effort to be ruled out. The decision sparked protests from the home supporters and briefly led to objects being thrown onto the pitch.

For Police, the loss left them with one point from their opening two matches and searching for their first victory of the campaign.

The club has now thanked Muyoti and Baraza for their “diligence, commitment, professionalism, and work ethic” and said it will communicate its next coaching arrangement in due course.

The change leaves Police needing to quickly settle on a new technical direction as they prepare for the remainder of the season.

The club's statement also hinted at wider ambitions, saying its coaching pathway would be shaped by its local and international aspirations as it moves towards the increasingly important CAF-A licensing requirement.

For a side that has only played two league matches, the departure is an early and significant change in the dugout, with Police now required to find a new coach while the 2026/27 campaign is still in its opening stages.