Divock Origi's father Mike Okoth explains why his son chose Belgium over Kenya
.jpg)
Reading Time: 3min | Sat. 20.12.25. | 19:44
Divock, who rose through the ranks at French club Lille, enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2013-14 that earned him a place in Belgium head coach Marc Wilmots’ 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil
Former Harambee Stars forward Mike Okoth Origi has opened up on why his son, Divock Origi, opted to represent Belgium at the international level despite being eligible to play for Kenya.
Follow Our WhatsApp Channel For More News
Divock, a UEFA Champions League and English Premier League winner with Liverpool, is the son of Okoth, who remains one of Kenya’s most accomplished football exports.
However, the striker ultimately committed his international future to Belgium, a decision that has long stirred debate within Kenyan football circles.
Speaking on Sporty FM’s Extra Time Exclusive show, Okoth revealed that the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) never formally approached him or his family regarding the possibility of Divock playing for Harambee Stars.
“FKF never even knew that Divock was playing football. There is no way they could approach me and say they wanted Divock to play for Kenya,” Okoth stated.
Divock, who rose through the ranks at French club Lille, enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2013-14 that earned him a place in Belgium head coach Marc Wilmots’ 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil.
His inclusion effectively settled his international future, ruling out any potential switch to Kenya.
On 17 June 2014, Origi made his senior international debut for Belgium, coming on as a substitute for Romelu Lukaku in the 58th minute against Algeria in Group H at Belo Horizonte.
He followed that up with a historic moment in Belgium’s next match against Russia, scoring the decisive 88th-minute goal after replacing Lukaku once again.
That strike made Origi the first player of Kenyan origin to score at a FIFA World Cup. At the age of 19 years, two months and four days, he also became the youngest goalscorer in Belgium’s World Cup history.
Despite these achievements, Origi’s decision to play for Belgium left many Kenyan football fans frustrated, with questions raised about FKF’s failure to secure his services.
The then FKF leadership in 2013 had issued statements suggesting efforts were underway to help the player acquire a Kenyan passport, though challenges were reportedly encountered from the family’s side.
Okoth, however, has dismissed those claims, insisting he only learned of Kenya’s interest through the media.
“I saw interviews from coach Adel Amrouche in the newspapers after Divock had already been called up to the Belgian youth teams.
He spoke to Arnold Origi, Divock’s cousin, but he never spoke to me. Nobody contacted me directly,” he said.
The former Gor Mahia forward further explained that the final decision did not rest with him, as Divock had already turned 18 and was free to choose his international future.
By then, the striker was deeply embedded in Belgium’s football structure, having featured for their youth teams from the Under-15 level all the way to Under-19.
“He went through the entire Belgian youth system. By the time he was with the Under-19s, he was already called up to the senior national team, so he never even played for the Under-21s,” Okoth explained.
“For me, it was obvious. No one approached us from Kenya, and Belgium was the system he knew. Playing for Belgium was his only real option because there was no other approach.”
In 2014, Origi was named the Belgian Sportsman of the Year Young Talent, further raising his growing stature in European football.
Although he later missed out on World Cup appearances in Russia and Qatar, Origi has repeatedly expressed pride in his Kenyan heritage.
Following the promulgation of Kenya’s 2010 Constitution, which allows dual citizenship, the striker has publicly stated that he remains a proud Kenyan citizen.
.jpg)
