Victor Wanyama & Mariga's Mother Has Passed Away

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) vice president McDonald Mariga has confirmed the death of his mother, Mildred Ayiemba Wanyama.

Mildred is also the mother of celebrated Harambee Stars midfielder Victor Wanyama, who was the first Kenyan player to feature in the English Premier League for Southampton and Tottenham Hotspur.

"It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of our beloved mother, who left us peacefully today morning. We are currently making arrangements and will share more details soon! Thank you," he wrote.

Mariga and Wanyama come from a sporting family. Their father, Noah, was a footballer who played for AFC Leopards, while their late mother, Mildred, was a netball player.

All of their children inherited their athletic genes, as their older brother Sylvester played football for several Kenyan teams in addition to Mariga.

  While Mercy Wanyama is a professional basketball player, Mariga's other younger brother, Thomas "Hesky" Wanyama, was also a football player but did not pursue a career in the sport like his siblings.

Mariga first pursued football at Ulinzi Stars before moving to various clubs while still in school, including Tusker FC and Kenya Pipeline.

He began his professional career in Sweden with Enköpings SK, later moving to Helsingborgs IF, where he received interest from English Premier League clubs.

In 2007, Mariga joined the Italian club Parma, initially on loan, where he played a key role in their promotion to Serie A.

He made history in 2010 by becoming the first Kenyan to play in the UEFA Champions League after transferring to Inter Milan, where he won several top honors.

Throughout his career, Mariga went on various loans, including to Real Sociedad and a second stint at Parma, before returning to Inter Milan.

He scored his first goal for the Kenyan national team against Swaziland in 2007, contributing to his international profile.

In 2019, Mariga ventured into politics, aiming for a parliamentary seat in Kenya's Kibra constituency, although he faced challenges in securing voter registration.

On the other hand, Wanyama made history as the first Kenyan player to score in the UEFA Champions League while playing for Celtic against Barcelona on November 7, 2012..

  On July 11, 2013, he became the most expensive player sold by a Scottish club at that time when he transferred to Southampton for £12.5 million, making him the first Kenyan to play in the Premier League.

After his tenure at Southampton, Wanyama moved to Tottenham Hotspur in 2016, where he made significant contributions before joining CF Montréal in 2020.

Wanyama debuted for the Kenya national team at age 15 in May 2007 and has earned over 60 caps throughout his international career.

He was recognized as the captain of the Harambee Stars starting in 2013 and participated in the Africa Cup of Nations in 2019.

In March 2025, he signed with Dunfermline Athletic, reuniting with his former Celtic manager Neil Lennon.

After initially announcing he would not renew with CF Montréal in October 2022, he changed his mind and signed a new two-year contract in January.

   It is anticipated that the family will soon announce the burial date and release a comprehensive funeral programme.