Lillestrom’s goalkeeper Arnold Origi has made a return to the Harambee Stars for the first time since March 2016.
Origi, 33, is among twelve foreign based professionals summoned by the head coach Stanley Okumbi for two friendlies against Mauritania and Togo late this month and early September.
His last show for the Stars was a back to back identical 1-0 loss to Guinea Bissau in the 2017 AFCON qualifiers in March 2016.
In the last match staged at Nyayo Stadium, Origi angrily protested Sanches Semedo’s late winner – adding fuel to fans’ chaos that had erupted – leading to the match being stopped for over thirty minutes.
Since then, he had not landed a call up under Okumbi despite continuing to command the number one jersey with his club in Norway.
His return comes at a time Gor Mahia’s Boniface Oluoch, who had been preferred in his absence, is experiencing dip in form and has been warming the bench at the multiple Kenyan champions.
Kenya will face Mauritania and Togo on 31st August and 4th September away respectively. The team departs Nairobi on 29th August.
Another team composed entirely of home-based professionals will take on Mozambique’s Mambas on 2nd September; the team will leave the country on 31st August.
Okumbi has also moved to replace Ulinzi Stars players who will be headed for the East Africa military games and will not join camp with ten new calls ups.
The ten include Kariobangi Sharks defender Pascal Ogweno, who was recently handed a six-match ban by the Kenyan Premier League for misconduct.
Others are want-away Gor Mahia midfielder Kenneth Muguna, Peter Nganga of Nakuru All Stars and Marcellus Ingotsi of AFC Leopards.
Home Based Professionals
Goalkeepers
Boniface Oluoch (Gor Mahia), Patrick Matasi (Posta Rangers), Peter Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Gabriel Andika (AFC Leopards), Farouk Shikalo (Posta Rangers)
Defenders
Benard Ochieng (Vihiga United), Harun Shakava (Gor Mahia), Musa Mohammed (Gor Mahia), Simon Mbugua (Posta Rangers), Collins Shivachi (Tusker), Joseph Okumu (Unattached), Jockins Atudo (Posta Rangers), Robinson Kamura (AFC Leopards), Wesley Onguso (Sofapaka), Dennis Shikhayi (AFC Leopards) Pascal Ogweno (Kariobangi Sharks)
Midfielders
Ernest Wendo (Gor Mahia), Victor Majid (AFC Leopards), George Odhiambo (Gor Mahia), Jackson Macharia (Tusker), Alpha Onyango (Kakamega High School), Duncan Otieno (AFC Leopards), Peter Nganga (Nakuru All Stars), Kenneth Muguna (Gor Mahia), Patillah Omotto (Kariobangi Sharks)
Strikers
Boniface Muchiri (Tusker), Kepha Aswani (Nakumatt), Masoud Juma (Kariobangi Sharks), Boniface Omondi (Gor Mahia), Moses Mudavadi (Kakamega Homeboyz), James Mazembe (Kakamega High School), Ezekiel Otuoma (Western Stima), Joe Waithera (Wazito), Chris Ochieng (Mathare United), Nicholas Kipkirui (Zoo Kericho), Marcellus Ingotsi (AFC Leopards)
Foreign Based Professionals
Abud Omar (Slava Sofia, Bulgaria), Anthony Akumu (Zesco, Zambia), David Ochieng (New York Cosmos, USA), Jesse Were (Zesco, Zambia), Johanna Omollo (Cercle Brugge, Belgium), David Owino (Zesco, Zambia), Michael Olunga (Guizhou Zhicheng, China), Clifton Miheso (Buildcon FC, Zambia), Erick Johanna (Vasalund’s FC, Sweden), Mark Makwatta (Buildcon FC, Zambia), Jonah Ayunga (Galway United, Ireland), Brian Mandela (Maritzburg United, South Africa), Ayub Timbe (Beijing Renhe, China), Victor Wanyama (Tottenham Hotspurs, England), Arnold Origi (Lillestrom, Norway)
