KPL Awards 2026: Omala Wins Player of the Year as Gor Mahia Dominate

The 2026 Kenya Premier League Awards ceremony took place at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre on Friday evening, celebrating the best of Kenyan football over the past season. Unsurprisingly, champions Gor Mahia dominated the proceedings, taking four of the seven major awards in a reflection of their emphatic title triumph.

Player of the Year: Benson Omala

Benson Omala's selection as Player of the Year was unanimous among the voting panel. The striker's 18 goals and 7 assists drove Gor Mahia to the championship, but the award recognised more than just statistics. Omala's leadership on the pitch, his ability to perform in the biggest matches — including a hat-trick in the Mashemeji Derby — and his influence on those around him made him the standout individual of the campaign. In his acceptance speech, Omala dedicated the award to his mother and pledged to lead Kenya's attack at AFCON 2027.

Coach of the Year: Jonathan Okumbi

Gor Mahia's head coach Jonathan Okumbi received the Coach of the Year award for transforming the team's style of play while delivering the title. His high-pressing, possession-based approach was a departure from traditional Kenyan football tactics, and the results spoke for themselves — 22 wins, a record-breaking points total, and the best defensive record in the league. Okumbi's man-management was also praised, particularly his handling of the dressing room during a mid-season run of four draws that threatened to derail the title challenge.

Young Player of the Year: Collins Sichenje

Tusker's Collins Sichenje, 20, won the Young Player of the Year award despite his team's disappointing season. The centre-back's composure on the ball, reading of the game, and ability to play out from the back caught the eye of scouts across the continent. He started 32 of Tusker's 34 league matches and was the only defender in the league to record zero own goals while completing over 85% of his passes. Several South African and North African clubs have expressed interest in signing him.

Other winners

Goalkeeper of the Year went to Ian Otieno of Gor Mahia, who kept 16 clean sheets in 34 appearances. The Fair Play Award was given to Bandari FC, who received the fewest yellow and red cards in the league. The Goal of the Year was awarded to Richard Odada — technically playing for the national team rather than a KPL club, but his spectacular volley against Uganda in the AFCON qualifiers was deemed too good to overlook. The Community Award went to Kakamega Homeboyz for their grassroots development programme in Western Kenya.

Looking ahead

The awards ceremony concluded with a video montage previewing the 2027 season and the excitement of AFCON 2027 on home soil. KPL chairman Mike Rabar announced that a new broadcast deal worth 800 million KES over four years had been signed, promising better coverage and higher standards for the league. Kenyan football is growing, and nights like these — celebrating excellence and inspiring the next generation — are an essential part of that growth.