Stanley Okumbi has been confirmed as the new Kenya national team coach, replacing Scottish tactician Bobby Williamson at the helm of the East African side.

The decision was made by the new Football Kenya Federation (FKF) chairman Nick Mwendwa, who revealed that Okumbi would be in charge of the team in an interim capacity for Harambee Stars’ 2017 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying match against Guinea Bissau in March.

Former coach Williamson led the Kenyans since his assumed the post in August, 2014, but issues with payments owed to him by the soccer authorities soured the relationship between the Scot and his employers.

Reports from BBCSport suggest that he was owed around $30 000 in back pay by the former FKF administration of Sammy Nyamweya, which is no longer in power.

As the new man in charge of the sport in Kenya, Mwendwa held a meeting with Williamson, and the decision was made to replace him with the man who recently spent time as coach of popular Kenyan club Mathare United.

Explaining the reasoning behind the change in leadership, the chairman mentioned that his plans were dedicated to improving the local capabilities of his national team staff.

“The appointment of Okumbi is geared towards building local capacity,” Mwendwa admitted, according to the FKF website.

“We have picked our own whom I believe have the capacity to do the job. Personally I love the passing game and believe in our own style,” he added.

Musa Otieno, who was assistant under Williamson, will remain in his post to provide support for Okumbi.

The coach must focus on the away match in Guinea Bissau, as Kenya only have a single point in their group after two results which included a 1-1away draw against Congo, and a disappointing 2-1 defeat to Zambia on home turf.