On-off Kenyan football league thrown into deeper confusion
Gor Mahia FC fans march through the streets of Nairobi on April 26, 2026, on their way to Nyayo National Stadium for the Mashemeji Derby clash against AFC Leopards.
What you need to know:
- Eight matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday and Sunday across six venues countrywide.
- This is the second time that the start of the season is being thrown into disarray, and clubs have paid the biggest price.
The 2026/2027 Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-KPL) which was meant to kick off on Saturday, September 19, 2026 failed to commence as planned following a court order stopping it.
An order issued on Friday evening at a Murang’a court stopped the 2026/2027 league season from commencing until the 18th team in the competition is known and included in the list of fixtures.
As this was happening, Mombasa United FC, a team that is embroiled in the tussle for the remaining league slot with Kariobangi Sharks, also obtained a separate court order in Kiambu compelling FKF to include them in the fixtures as the 18th team.
This is the second time that the start of the season is being thrown into disarray, and clubs have paid the biggest price.
FKF had released fixtures for the first round of matches for 17 teams, pending determination by the courts as to who between Kariobangi Sharks who finished 16th in the KPL last season, and Mombasa United FC who finished third in the National Super League (NSL), will be the 18th team in the 2026/2027 season.
Eight matches were scheduled to be played on Saturday and Sunday across six venues countrywide.
Posta Rangers FC, who were supposed to play Shabana FC on the opening day, confirmed that it had received communication regarding postponement of the league on Saturday morning.
“The Kenya Premier League has been postponed until further notice following ongoing court proceedings affecting the commencement of the season. We sincerely apologise to our fans, sponsors, partners and stakeholders for the disappointment and inconvenience caused, including the postponement of today’s fixture against Shabana FC Kenya at Wang’uru Stadium,” the club said in a statement.
Posta Rangers were scheduled to host Shabana at Wang’uru Stadium on Saturday in Kirinyaga County from 3pm.
In Kiambu, a petitioner named Center for Litigation Trust filed a suit against FKF demanding that Mombasa United be included in the league fixtures.
AFC Leopards fans celebrate their team’s victory over Tusker FC 4-0 in an FKF Premier League match at Nyayo National Stadium on January 11, 2026.
The case was placed before Honourable Justice Francis Nyungu Kyambia on Friday and certified urgent. The inter-parties hearing was fixed for September 29.
Pending that hearing, the court ordered FKF to publish provisional revised fixtures to include Mombasa United Football Club as the 18th club and permit the club to participate in 2026/2027 FKF-PL subject to other requirements of the respondent.
But what is causing all the confusion?
In the 2025/26 season, Kariobangi Sharks finished 16th in KPL, while Mombasa United finished third in NSL. Migori Youth finished on top, and 3K FC came second in the NSL.
Under the 2019 FKF-PL rules, the club that finishes 16th in KPL does not go down automatically, but goes into a promotion/relegation play-off (home and away) against the club that finishes third in the NSL. If the 2019 rules are applied, Kariobangi Sharks would play Mombasa United in the promotion/relegation play-off. The overall winner then takes the 18th slot in the 2025\2026 FKF-PL season.
Under the new 2025 rules, the play-off was scrapped. The bottom three clubs are automatically relegated from FKF-PL, and the top three in the NSL are automatically promoted to the FKF-PL. Under that rule, Kariobangi Sharks (16th in 2025/2026 FKF-PL), Bidco United (17th) and Sofapaka (18th) were relegated, and Migori Youth (top in 2025/2026 NSL), 3K (second) and Mombasa United (third) were automatically promoted.
Kariobangi Sharks who are associated with former FKF boss Nick Mwendwa, went to court to challenge their relegation, arguing the 2025 rules were not properly adopted and they should engage in a play-off against Mombasa United.
Mombasa United are caught up in the middle. Under 2019 rules, they have earned a play-off slot, with a chance of playing in the 2026/2027 FKF-PL if they win. Under 2025 rules, they have automatically earned promotion to the top league. They prefer the latter.
The High Court had earlier allowed the league to commence with 17 teams pending a ruling by the Sports Disputes Tribunal on Wednesday, September 24. FKF therefore released fixtures for 17 teams.
This is the second stoppage after the initial August postponement when Kariobangi Sharks first went to court, and the cost to clubs is huge.
Teams had already travelled. Sponsors SportPesa and broadcasters Azam TV had also mobilised equipment. Azam had scheduled live coverage of the match between Gor Mahia and Murang’a SEAL on Saturday from 4pm, and that between AFC Leopards and Bandari on Sunday at 4pm at Nyayo National Stadium.
FKF was yet to issue an official communication over this by the time of writing this story.
For now, there will be no matches at Police Sacco Stadium, Wang’uru Stadium, Ulinzi Sports Complex, Nyayo National Stadium, Green Stadium Awendo, and at Moi Stadium in Embu this weekend.
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