Ulinzi Stars, the Kenyan Premier League side representing the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF), faces a significant setback as five key players—Leonlevitt Otieno, Felix Otieno, Fredrick Oduor, Joseph Omuse, and Joseph Ochieng—have been ruled out for the remainder of the 2025 season. The players have been summoned for mandatory KDF basic training at the Defence Forces Recruit Training School in Eldoret, starting this month.
The KDF training, a nine-month program, is a compulsory requirement for military personnel, including those serving on the Ulinzi Stars squad. As a club composed of active servicemen from the Kenya Army, Air Force, and Navy, the team is subject to military obligations that often take precedence over football commitments.
This extended training period, running through mid-2026, clashes with the league’s final stretch, leaving the team shorthanded and increasing their risk of relegation. The situation underscores the ongoing challenge of balancing military duties with competitive sports, a recurring issue for the club.
