Justine Okiring, a former coach of Kenya’s national women’s team, the Harambee Starlets, died on Tuesday after suffering serious injuries in an attack near the Trans Nzoia–West Pokot border. He passed away while receiving treatment at Wamalwa Kijana Referral Hospital in Kitale, according to local officials.
His death has shocked Kenya’s football community and reignited concerns about security in parts of the region, where sporadic violence has long troubled residents.
At the national level, Mr Okiring was known as a quiet tactician with a teacher’s patience. During his time with the Harambee Starlets, he helped identify and nurture talent at a moment when women’s football in Kenya was still fighting for attention and resources.
In Trans Nzoia County, he coached the Trans Nzoia Falcons and later Wiyeta Girls’ Secondary School. At Wiyeta, he built a formidable team, guiding the school to multiple titles and turning it into a powerhouse of girls’ football.
One of his proudest moments came when Wiyeta Girls won the Federation of East Africa Secondary School Sports Associations (FEASSSA) girls’ football championship, a rare achievement that placed both the school and the region on the continental map.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) led tributes to the coach, describing him as “a committed and respected servant of the game” whose contribution would be remembered “with gratitude”.
“He gave his life to developing the sport, especially for girls who might otherwise have been left behind,” the federation said in a statement posted on Facebook.
As tributes continue to pour in, questions remain about the circumstances that led to his death. Authorities say investigations are ongoing.
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