McDonald Mariga's entry to politics makes him one of high profile ex-Harambee Stars players to join politics, an arena considered to be full of propaganda.
Already, the former Inter Milan midfielder is facing a host of cases, key among them his real age, possible forging of documents among others.
Should Mariga win Kibra by-election in November, he will join a list of few former Harambee Stars players to ever win parliamentary polls in Kenya.
Mr Mariga will be racing against Imran Okoth of ODM, Eliud Owalo of ANC and Ramadhan Khamisi of Ford Kenya among other contestants.
Before him, Charles Mukora of Laikipia East, Chris Obure of Bobasi and Kisii County and former Kisumu Town West and Deputy Speaker Job Omino had successful attempts.
Charles Mukora played as centre half for Harambee Stars in the mid-50s. An unusually gifted sportsman, he switched to athletics and did the long jump and decathlon before becoming a coach. JM Kariuki, one of Kenya’s martyred politicians, had praise for Mukora in his book “Mau Mau Detainee” as both a sportsman and a man.
During his long career, Mukora stayed in touch with his roots. The high altitude athletics training camp that he established was in his home area and his people appreciated that. Once he expressed interest in politics and bearing the banner of the locally correct political party, it was only a matter of course before he became MP for Laikipia East after the 1992 General Election.
His fate following a bribery scandal surrounding the awarding of the 2002 Winter Olympics to Salt Lake City had the tragic weight of a colossus’ collapse. People make mistakes and these mistakes can wreck a lifetime’s work. It was Mukora’s fate to have his career end the way it did but there was never any doubt that his was a life of service.
For Mr Obure, is perhaps the most successful of the three. Since 1988, the Bobasi seat was interchanged between him and Mr Stephen Manoti. Mr Obure would later join ODM.
Between 2007-13, he was minister for public works. In 2013, he won the Kisii County Senatorial seat but lost gubernatorial seat in 2017. He is currently CAS for Public Works.
Mr Obure had successful football career in defunct Limuru Bata Bullets and Gor Mahia. He got a calling to Harambee Stars in 70s during the reign of Kenneth Matiba as KFF chairman.
For Mr Omino, also a former KFF chairman, his stint in politics was also luminous. He served as Kisumu Town West MP before succumbing to cancer in 2004.
Mr Omino also served as Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly and Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs. He was a close ally of Raila Odinga just like Mr Obure.