Kenya has three top match officials representing the country at the ongoing 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), jointly hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from August 2 to 30.
The trio of Stephen Yiembe, Dickens Mimisa, and Samuel Kuria Mwangi was appointed by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
Mwangi Samuel Kuria was appointed as an assistant referee, while Stephen Yiembe will serve as the Video Match Official (VMO). On his part, Dickens Mimisa will be the centre referee.
Their appointments came after they attended a CHAN pre-tournament training and evaluation course held from September 4–9, 2024, in Cairo, Egypt.
The program assessed 63 referees and resulted in the selection of 26 center referees, 22 assistant referees, and 10 Video Assistant Referees (VAR) for the competition.
Three Kenyan Referees Officiating CHAN 2024 Matches
Stephen Yiembe
Stephen Yiembe is among the few African match officials—and the only one from East Africa—to officiate in the recently concluded FIFA Club World Cup, where he officiated the group match between Real Madrid and Salzburg.
The Nakuru-born referee, who began his career in 2012 and earned his FIFA badge in 2018, is the most experienced of the trio and serves as a Video Assistant Referee (VAR).
Yiembe has officiated at major international tournaments, including the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) in Ivory Coast, where he teamed up with compatriot Gilbert Cheruiyot during the Tunisia-Namibia match.
He also officiated the AFCON U23 final between Morocco and Egypt in July 2023.
In 2024, Yiembe was among the 89 officials who took part in the Paris Olympic Games as an assistant referee.
Among his other top assignments, he served as the second assistant referee in this year’s CAF Champions League Final between Pyramids FC and Mamelodi Sundowns.
Dickens Mimisa
Dickens Mimisa is a renowned Kenyan referee with extensive experience in both domestic and international football. In 2023, he was named Male Referee of the Year at the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Awards.
Mimisa’s international credentials include officiating the AFCON qualifier between Mozambique and Mali on November 15, 2024.
Known for his calm control and crisp decision-making, Mimisa has handled major fixtures such as the recent Mashemeji Derby and AFCON U20 matches.
Other notable matches he has officiated include:
- CAF Champions League: Djoliba vs. ASKO de Kara (September 14, 2024)
- CAF Confederation Cup: Egypt vs. Burkina Faso – Fourth Official (March 6, 2024)
- AFCON Qualifier: Comoros vs. Côte d’Ivoire – Fourth Official (March 28, 2023)
- CAF Champions League: Cotonsport vs. Al Ahly – Fourth Official (March 17, 2023)
- Friendly Matches: Zambia vs. Zimbabwe (March 23, 2024) and Kenya vs. South Sudan (March 13, 2021)
Outside football, Mimisa is also a respected civil engineer.
Samuel Kuria Mwangi
Samuel Mwangi, who earned his international badge in 2019, has built a reputation for accurate offside judgments and discipline on the line in the Kenyan Premier League and regional competitions.
His recent inclusion in the CAF training program in Cairo and subsequent selection for CHAN marks a significant milestone in his career.
He has officiated major domestic fixtures such as the Mashemeji Derby between AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia.
