Hussein Mohammed/HANDOUT
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) will meet club officials on Wednesday morning in a fresh attempt to resolve the rules and governance dispute that has stalled the 2026/27 SportPesa League.
The stakeholder meeting, initially scheduled for Monday, was postponed after internal consultations and requests from clubs.
FKF is seeking consensus on promotion, relegation and the regulations that should govern the top flight this season.
The talks come as the league remains suspended following a clarification by the Milimani High Court on a status quo order barring FKF from starting the competition before the ongoing legal dispute is heard on September 21.
FKF president Hussein Mohammed has acknowledged that plans to start the new season were rushed and stressed the need for further consultations with clubs.
“We have to sit down and discuss these proposals properly because this time round we must get it right,” Hussein said.
Hussein also distanced the federation's top leadership from the fixture list issued for the opening round, saying it had been published by the Leagues and Competitions Department without the required authorisation.
“The date was never meant to be a final date,” Hussein said, adding that consultations with clubs would continue before a new kick-off date is confirmed.
The dispute centres on which regulations should govern the 2026/27 season.
The 2019 rules provide for two automatic relegations, with the team finishing 16th playing a promotion-relegation playoff against the third-placed National Super League side.
The 2025 regulations scrap the playoff system and provide for three automatic relegations, with three teams promoted from the NSL.
Kariobangi Sharks, who finished 16th last season, are at the centre of the dispute. The Sports Disputes Tribunal upheld the validity of the 2025 regulations on August 10, but Sharks appealed the decision at the High Court.
The Milimani High Court's clarification on Monday prompted FKF to postpone all Round One matches scheduled between August 31 and September 2.
At least 12 Premier League clubs had allegedly refused to honour their fixtures until the regulatory and governance questions were resolved.
“We need to make sure that all the stakeholders are comfortable with what we are proposing,” Hussein said.
The dispute has also created uncertainty over foreign-player quotas. The 2025 regulations allow clubs to field seven foreign players, compared with five under the 2019 rules.
Clubs including Gor Mahia, Tusker and Kenya Police have already recruited up to seven foreign players, raising concerns over possible contractual complications if the older regulations are enforced.
FKF vice-president McDonald Mariga has urged all sides to end the impasse, warning that the crisis could have wider implications for Kenyan football.
“We cannot afford to continue having these avoidable institutional distractions,” Mariga said.
He said the uncertainty was particularly worrying with Kenya preparing to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
“Domestic football must be functioning properly because we have Afcon 2027 preparations ahead of us,” he said.
Mariga also called on all factions to respect court orders and the federation's constitution instead of prolonging the leadership and governance dispute.
“We must respect the constitution and the court orders and find a way of moving forward,” he said.
He warned that the continued delay was hurting clubs, players and sponsors, with teams losing valuable competitive preparation while commercial partners faced uncertainty over the league programme.
“The clubs, players and sponsors all need certainty,” Mariga said.
He urged FKF and the clubs to use Wednesday's meeting to find a lasting solution that would allow the league to resume under clear and legally sound regulations.
“We need to sit together, resolve these issues and give Kenyan football the stability it deserves,” Mariga said.
Wednesday's meeting will be crucial as FKF and the clubs attempt to bridge their differences, although the September 21 court hearing remains a major factor in determining when the 2026/27 season can begin.
The immediate priority is to establish a clear regulatory framework that commands the confidence of clubs and can withstand further legal challenges.
