Firat served as head coach of Harambee Stars from 2021, initially on a short-term interim contract that was later formalised. He remained at the helm until December 2024, when his tenure ended.

Over his time in charge, he oversaw 23 matches, recording seven wins, seven draws, and nine defeats. The results reflected a team that showed moments of promise but also faced recurring challenges in finding consistency at the international level.

Highlights of his tenure included a 2-1 victory over Qatar and respectable draws with Ivory Coast and Russia,.

There were notable setbacks as well, such as a heavy 5-0 defeat to Mali in the 2022 World Cup qualifiers, a 4-0 humbling to Cameroon in the 2025 AFCON qualifiers and a disappointing 1-0 friendly defeat to South Sudan at Kasarani Stadium.

A recurring theme of Firat’s tenure was the emphasis on structural hurdles inhibiting progress. He consistently pointed to Kenya’s inability to host international matches due to a lack of FIFA-accredited stadium facilities.

This constraint forced Harambee Stars to play several World Cup and AFCON qualifiers abroad, with Malawi, Uganda, and South Africa serving as temporary home venues.

The Standard extends its condolences to the friends and family of Firat at this time.