Lama, a member of France's 1998 World Cup-winning squad, will take up his post in August and his first task will be to guide the team through qualification for the 2008 African Nations Cup finals in Ghana.

"It is our hope that Lama will restore confidence and technical finesse in our team as we focus on Ghana 2008 and (the World Cup in) South Africa in 2010," Kenya Football Federation (KFF) secretary general Dan Omino told Reuters.

The French Guyana-born 43-year-old will have a free hand to name his assistants after going through their credentials with KFF officials, Omino said.

Kenya failed to qualify for this year's African Nations Cup and World Cup tournament