Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) kicks off on Friday but will be without some of its best talent that lit up last season.
The season opener will see 13-time champions Tusker clash with KCB under floodlights at Nyayo Stadium from 6pm. Several clubs, including Tusker, record 21-time champions Gor Mahia, Bandari, Kakamega Homeboyz, and Sofapaka, will have to cope without key players after they left for greener pastures abroad. Headlining the list is 20-year-old striker Ryan Ogam, who has joined Austrian top-tier side Wolfsberger Athletik Club from Tusker for an undisclosed fee.
Ryan Ogam, 20, Tusker FC.
Photo credit: Nation Media Group
The dream move for the striker was fuelled by his impressive performance at the 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) that Kenya co-hosted alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
In the 19-nation biennial tournament, Kenya exited at the quarter-finals stage after losing 4-3 to Madagascar in post-match penalties after a 1-1 draw in regular and extra-time.
Ogam, the Dagoretti High School alumnus, came to the nation’s rescue with two crucial goals against Morocco and Zambia.
Kenya's Ryan Ogam celebrates after scoring a goal during their 2024 Chan Group 'A' match against Morocco at Moi Internationals Sports Centre, Kasarani, on August 10,2025.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
He was instrumental in Tusker’s fourth-place finish last season as he netted an impressive 15 goals in 17 matches. Sadly, for the former Rainbow FC player, his Golden Boot dream was cut short after he picked a knee injury that saw him sidelined for three months. He only returned to action in the club’s final match of the season.
Tusker’s coach Charles Okere has admitted that they will miss the services of the striker. “We will miss him. He is a boy who scores an average of one goal per game. But at the same time, it is a blessing because with Ryan gone, it is an opportunity for another person to come up,” said Okere.
Wolfsberger's latest major honour is the 2025 Austrian Cup. The club reached the group stage of the 2019/20 Uefa Europa League.
Also securing moves abroad after their Chan exploits are central defender Alphonce Omija and goalkeeper Farouk Shikhalo.
Alphonce Omija, 22 Gor Mahia
Photo credit: Nation Media Group
Omija, 22, joined Tunisian giants Étoile Sportive du Sahel on a two-year deal from Gor. He was a pillar in Kenya’s defense. The North African side boasts an impressive cabinet that includes 11 Tunisian League Professionnelle 1, One CAF Champions League trophy, and two CAF Confederation Cup crowns, among other honours. So important is Omija to the club that he played the entire minutes in their 1-0 league win over Union Sportive Monastirienne on Saturday.
Shikhalo, 29, joined Ethiopian giants St. George Sports Club from Bandari on a one-year renewable contract.
Tusker's Kenyan Under-20 goalkeeper Farouk Shikhalo during a past training session. PHOTO | FILE |
Shikhalo was part of Kenya’s squad at Chan and was in goal in Kenya’s win over Zambia. He becomes the second Kenyan goalkeeper to play for St. Georges SC after Patrick Matasi (2018 to 2021).
Meanwhile, 19-year-old Baron Ochieng joined Egyptian giants Zamalek Sporting Club on a four-year deal from Sofapaka, where he had been a crucial player for the past two years. Zamalek is the second most successful club in Egypt after Al Ahly. Zamalek boasts of 14 Egyptian Premier League titles and five CAF Champions League and two CAF Confederation Cup titles, among other major honours.
Though Ochieng was named in Zamalek match day squad against Al Masry on Saturday, he did not see action in their 3-0 triumph. He was part of Kenya’s squad that featured in the Under-20 Africa Cup of Nations finals 2025 in Egypt.
Last season’s FKF-PL top scorers, Moses Shumah, and Emmanuel Osoro, have joined Zambian giants Power Dynamos on a two-year deal each. Playing for Kakamega Homeboyz, Shumah, 22, clinched the Golden Boot with 17 goals, 19-year-old Oroso came close with 16 goals.
Shumah has already opened his accounts for Dynamos as he netted a brace in their 2-0 win over Napsa Stars in the Zambian Super League on Saturday last week. Dynamos have won eight Zambian Super League titles.
Harambee Stars attacking midfielder Mohammed Bajaber in training with Tanzania's Simba Sports Club on August 14th, 2025, in Egypt.
Photo credit: Pool
For champions Police, they will miss the services of 22-year-old attacking midfielder Mohammed Bajaber after he moved to Tanzanian giants Simba Sporting Club on a three-year deal. Bajaber, nicknamed “Star Boy” for his sublime skills, is one of the “Wekundu wa Msimbazi ” key signings for the upcoming new season. He is excited by the move. “I never imagined playing for Simba,” he told Simba SC media in August.
Bajaber joined Police on a two-and-a-half-year contract earlier this year from the now relegated Nairobi City Stars. Though he only featured for Police for six months, he played a crucial role in their title triumph having scored seven goals in 11 matches.
However, the local league has not been left with nothing. Stars who will continue featuring in the league include last season's Golden Gloves winner Job Ochieng, who kept 13 clean-sheets with champions Police and Gor Mahia midfielders Alpha Onyango and Austine Odhiambo. Others are teenage midfielder Suleiman Manzur, who has joined newcomers Nairobi United from KCB, and Ulinzi Stars assistant captain Boniface Muchiri.
Harambee Stars goalkeeper Byrne Omondi.
Photo credit: Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group
Others are goalkeeper Byrne Omondi and defender Mohamed Siraj, who have all joined Gor from Bandari, Shabana midfielder Brian Michira, teenage striker Austine Odongo and Kenya Police midfielder Marvine Nabwire. Except for Ochieng, the other players were part of Kenya’s squad at Chan.
Eyes will also be on striker Erick Kapaito after he rejoined Tusker from Tanzania’s side, Namungo FC. In 2018, Kapaito was both the league’s top scorer (16 goals) and Most Valuable Player. He again clinched the Golden Boot award in the 2020/21 campaign with 24 goals.
