For nearly a decade, Kariobangi Sharks have been one of the most consistent teams in the FKF Premier League, with the potential to become champions.
Since earning promotion to the top flight league in December 2016, they have never experienced relegation troubles, beguiling admirers and detractors with attractive football, strong youth development, and the ability to slug it out with the big boys.
Now, that 10-year stay is in danger of ending.
The relegation axe is hanging over the neck of Sharks, whose best finish in the Premiership is third in the debut 2017 season.
The club, owned by former FKF boss Nick Mwendwa, must overturn a 2-1 loss to Mombasa United from their promotion play-off first leg at Mbaraki Sports Club on Tuesday to retain their Premiership status.
For Mombasa United, it was a statement. For Sharks, it was a reality check.
“We made two mistakes at the back and we paid for them. But the fight is not over,” Muluya said.
It is an unfamiliar story for Sharks, who finished 16th, the worst position, in the league last season.
Sharks have consistently finished in the top half of the table except in 2020 (12th), 2023 (11th), 2025 (11th) and last season.
They won the SportPesa Shield in 2018, which earned them a ticket to the 2018/19 CAF Confederation Cup.
Appearing in Africa for the first time, they thrashed Djibouti’s Arta Solar 7 9-1 on aggregate in the first round before falling 2-1 to Ghanaian giants Asante Kotoko. in the next round.
They enjoyed the prestige of playing against English Premier League side Everton on July 7, 2019, at MISC, holding Liverpool-based club to a 1-1 draw. before winning 4-3 in post-match penalties.
But last season, encumbered by financial challenges and the departure of key players, they plummeted to the relegation zone and are now fighting for dear life at this level.
Kariobangi must win 1-0 or by two clear goals if both sides score on Tuesday at Police Sacco Stadium to stamp their ticket to the 2026/2027 Premier League season.
Mombasa United, who played a composed game at Mbaraki, will feel confident they can pull off the job in Nairobi.
These play-offs were agreed after mediation led by FKF following a stand-off on which rules and regulations to follow in promoting teams to the new season.
The 2019 FKF Rules and Regulations provide that teams finishing 17th and 18th in the Premier League are relegated automatically, while the club finishing 16th goes into a two-leg play-off against the team that finished third in the NSL.
The FKF changed these rules in 2025, scrapping the play-offs. Thus, teams finishing 16th, 17th, and 18th are automatically relegated, and clubs finishing first, second, and third are automatically promoted.
Going by the 2025 Rules and Regulations, Sharks, Bidco United and Sofapaka FC, who finished 17th and 18th respectively, were relegated, while NSL champions Migori Youth, first runners up 3K FC and second runners up Mombasa United were promoted to top flight football.
Sharks faulted how FKF introduced the new rules and took their grievance to the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT), which ruled in favour of the 2025 regulations.
Sharks appealed to the High Court, seeking to stop the September 19 league kick-off until their matter was decided. The court set a hearing for September 21.
A day later, the High Court in Mombasa barred FKF from starting the league until it conducted a play-off between Sharks and Mombasa.
He described it as an “impossible legal situation” that exposed the federation, clubs, sponsors and broadcasters to contempt proceedings and the risk of results being nullified later.
Tuesday's return leg has all to play for as one club seeks to write history while another wants to preserve it.
