The Harambee Stars have been bundled out of the African Nations Championship (Chan) qualifiers after falling to the Taifa Stars of Tanzania 4-1 in a penalty shoot-out.
Neither of the two countries could get a goal in the entire 180 minutes in the two-legged affair, leaving the match officials with no option but let the game be decided by the penalties.
The two teams played cautiously especially in the first 25 minutes of Sunday's game as they tried to avoid conceding.
In the 27th minute, the Tanzanians conceded a free-kick about 25 yards from Juma Kaseja goal. Kenya Police's new signing Clifton Miheso rose for the occasion but skied his effort.
About eight minutes later, Ibrahim Shambi committed a foul at the edge of the 18-yard area. John Bocco took the responsibility but failed to do anything meaningful with the ball.
The hosts came back stronger after the break, pushing their neighbours into making mistakes by getting the ball into their danger zone.
Despite attacks from all fronts, Kenya could not find a way past the organised Taifa Stars back four, and anytime they did, Juma Kaseja was there to clear the mess.
On the hour mark, Tanzania conceded a free-kick in a good position, Miheso took it but Kenneth Muguna could not direct the ball into the net.
Bocco did well to get the ball into the box in the 65th minute, and as he prepared to pull the trigger, Joash Onyango made a last-ditch tackle to clear the danger.
In the 75th minute, Tanzania survived a scare - Sydney Lokale managed to get into a good position before crossing the ball, but Duke Abuya narrowly missed it with the goalkeeper well beaten.
Jeff Oyemba almost bottled up in the stoppages, when he lost possession to Bocco, but the striker failed to put the ball into an empty net.
With neither of the two teams failing to get a goal in the two legs, the match had to be decided by the penalties.
Erasto Nyoni, Paulo Nyanganya, Gadiel Kamagi and Salimu Hamis then converted their penalties for the Taifa Stars, but Clifton Miheso scored the lone goal for Kenya with Michael Kibwage and Joash Onyango failing to score.
Kenya XI: 1. John Oyemba (GK), 12. Philemon Otieno, 3. Cliffton Miheso, 5. Mike Kibwage, 4. Joash Onyango, 6. Dennis Odhiambo (C), 15. Samuel Onyango, 10. Kenneth Muguna, 14. Sydney Lokale, 8. Whyvone Isuza, 11. Duke Abuya
Subs: 18. James Saruni, 16. David Owino, 2. Benard Oginga, 17. Ibrahim Shambi, 13. Boniface Muchiri, 7. Patilah Omoto, 9. Enosh Ochieng.
Tanzania XI: 13. Juma Kaseja, 5. Kelvin Patrick, 4. Erasto Nyoni, 16. Frank Raymond Domaya, 2. Michael Kamagi, 12. Hassan Dilunga, 21. Iddi selemani Ali, 8. Salum Abubakar, 14. John Bocco, 20. Jonas Mkude, 19. Paulo Nyanganya.
Subs: 1. Metacha Mnata, 24. Abdul Aziz Makame, 9. Hamis Salimu, 17. Ayubu Lyanga, 3. Feisal Salum, 15. Oscar Godfrey Masai 6. Ramadhan Shamte.
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=640&quality=60)
.jpg?auto=webp&format=pjpg&width=640&quality=60)