The Kenyan football league, initially set to kick off in August, has been delayed due to a crisis within the Football Kenya Federation (FKF). FKF president Hussein Mohammed attributed the delay to conflicting court orders and disputed regulations. The new season was supposed to start on September 19 but did not. Clubs have prepared, players have trained, and sponsors have invested, but the league remains on hold.
The crisis revolves around the composition of the league, specifically the fate of Kariobangi Sharks and Mombasa United. Sharks finished 16th in the 2025/26 Premier League and were relegated under the 2025 regulations. Mombasa United, on the other hand, finished third in the National Super League (NSL) and were in contention for promotion. The dispute centers on which rules apply: the 2019 regulations or the 2025 framework.
The 2019 regulations provide for a promotion-relegation playoff between the team finishing 16th in the top flight and the third-placed NSL side. In contrast, the 2025 framework provides for the bottom three Premier League teams to be relegated automatically and the top three NSL teams to be promoted. The Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) has validated the 2025 rules, but the issue persists through the courts.
The FKF faced a dilemma with conflicting court orders. One High Court order required FKF to organize a playoff between Sharks and Mombasa United, while another directed them to include Mombasa United as the 18th team in the Premier League. Mohammed stated that postponing the league was the safest option to avoid violating court orders and risking legal consequences.
FKF's acting Secretary General, Dennis Gicheru, attempted to simplify the matter, disputing the interpretation that a playoff was automatically required. He argued that there was no fundamental conflict between the rules and that the 2025 framework had been approved by the federation's leadership and validated by the SDT.
The league crisis has arrived at a difficult moment for FKF, with a leadership dispute between Mohammed and his deputy, McDonald Mariga. The two have emerged on opposite sides of a dispute that has involved a section of the National Executive Committee (NEC). The crisis has brought Kenyan football to a standstill, with the league delayed and no confirmed new date.
The delay has significant implications for Kenyan football, with clubs, players, sponsors, and broadcasters affected. The FKF has argued that playing matches under such uncertainty could create consequences extending beyond the federation itself. The federation is working to resolve the crisis, but a solution remains elusive.
Key points
- The Kenyan football league has been delayed due to conflicting court orders and disputed regulations.
- The crisis revolves around the composition of the league, specifically the fate of Kariobangi Sharks and Mombasa United.
- The leadership dispute within FKF has contributed to the crisis, with Mohammed and Mariga on opposite sides.
