Gor Mahia celebrate after winning the 2025/26 SportPesa League/HANDOUTThe 2026/27 SportPesa Premier League season remains in limbo after the High Court maintained interim orders blocking the start of the campaign, deepening the dispute between Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and clubs affected by changes to promotion and relegation rules.
FKF has filed an urgent application seeking to lift or suspend the orders, arguing that the injunction has paralysed preparations for the new season. The High Court in Murang’a will rule the application on Friday.
The federation is also challenging the High Court’s jurisdiction, maintaining that disputes arising from decisions of the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) should be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland.
“Any dispute or challenge regarding the Sports Disputes Tribunal decision must strictly be pursued before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Switzerland,” FKF argues.
The dispute centres on FKF’s 2025 promotion and relegation regulations, which replaced the 2019 framework.
Under the old rules, the bottom two Premier League teams were automatically relegated, while the team finishing 16th played the third-placed side in the National Super League for a top-flight place.
The 2025 regulations abolished the play-off and introduced a three-up, three-down system, meaning Kariobangi Sharks, Sofapaka and Bidco United would be relegated, while Migori Youth, 3K FC and Mombasa United would earn automatic promotion.
FKF maintains the changes were legally adopted by its National Executive Committee (NEC) and did not require General Assembly approval.
“The rules were legally ratified by its National Executive Committee and do not legally require the ratification of the General Assembly,” the federation says.
Kariobangi Sharks, who finished 16th, moved to court alongside activist Evans Nduta, challenging the legality of the changes. They argue that altering the promotion and relegation system after the season had started was procedurally unfair and that the NEC lacked authority to introduce the changes without General Assembly approval.
The SDT ruled in favour of FKF on August 10, finding that the 2025 regulations had been validly adopted. However, subsequent High Court orders have prevented the federation from implementing the decision.
FKF says proceeding with the league while the orders remain in force could expose it to contempt proceedings.
“Proceeding with the league would place the federation in contempt of court,” it says.
The federation has also warned of the financial impact of the delay, saying clubs and sponsors cannot operate effectively without certainty over the season.
FKF NEC member Dan Shikanda has warned that the prolonged uncertainty could damage Kenyan football and scare away sponsors.
“This prolonged freeze threatens to scare away corporate sponsors and compromises the preparation schedules for players and clubs nationwide,” FKF says.
The delay could also disrupt Kenya’s wider football calendar, including preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, which Kenya is co-hosting.
FKF says clubs have already invested heavily in pre-season preparations and squad building but remain unable to begin the campaign.
“The ongoing court injunction forces us into a corner,” the federation says.
The High Court will hear FKF’s preliminary objection on jurisdiction on September 21, while the main appeal concerning Kariobangi Sharks’ relegation is scheduled for September 24.
The two hearings will be crucial in determining whether FKF can implement the SDT decision and confirm the composition of the 2026/27 Premier League.
Until then, the federation, clubs, players and sponsors remain caught in a legal stalemate, with no confirmed date for the start of the new season.
