JOE KADENGE

   'KADENGE NA MPIRA' is the famous line which literally sticks in most of the Kenyans and football lovers who knew Kadenge or had no idea but through it made different people get to know Kadenge more and the impact he made in his football career and furthermore what he has done for the Harambee Stars back in Kenya.

For one's story to be complete everyone has a background and in this case, Joe Kadenge's roots draw us back to 16th March 1935 in Kenya where the Kenyan legend was born. Joe Kadenge played for the national team, Harambee Stars for 14 years and 2 teams in the Kenyan Premier League that is Maragoli United where he scored the fastest goal ever in the Kenyan Premier League and Abaluhya United which today is known as AFC Leopards where he won the Kenyan Premier League in the year 1966. In the same year, Kadenge joined the national team where the phrase 'KADENGE NA MPIRA' gained popularity of which the game was being broadcasted by veteran radio personality, football commentator, broadcaster and friend Leonard  Mambo Mbotela.

After the end of his career, Kadenge was called up in 2002 to take over as the Kenya National Team head coach. And in 2003 he was succeeded by Jacob Mulee. In 2010 Kadenge was invited by FIFA to attend the opening ceremony in South Africa  and represent East and Central Africa in gracing it. Later in 2012, he was appointed by FKF (Kenya Football Federation) as the First Football Ambassador. His amazing career was appreciated as he was inducted in the Hall of Fame in the Soya Awards.

Not only having a big family in football Kadenge, has his own family back at home comprising of 5 children 4 boys and 1 girl namely Francis Kadenge , Evans Kadenge , Oscar Kadenge and Evans Kandenge, have made sure that the legacy keeps on going as they engage in football where Oscar plays for AFC Leopards and Evans is the head coach at Nzoia United. His daughter Everlyn Kadenge Hoskin passed early this year at Aurora in the US on 9th 2019 as it was confirmed the course of the death was a stroke.

By the age of 84, Joe Kadenge had made all his dreams come true after he got the chance to visit Old Trafford in Manchester where he met with David Beckham's father and back in Kenya he got sick and he received visits from the Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta, Raila Odinga, and Musalia Mudavadi. He later passed on at the Meridian hospital in Nairobi where his son Oscar confirmed on Sunday, July 7th, 2019. Back in 2006, he had also suffered a stroke. A requiem mass will be held on Wednesday at Friends International Center Church on Ngong Road and later on Thursday, it will be flown to Bhukungu Stadium in Kakamega county for public viewing. He will be laid to rest on July 20th in Soliani Village in Vihiga County as confirmed by his family.