Kariobangi Sharks players celebrate their goal in a past league match/HANDOUT Football Kenya Federation (FKF) have summoned Kariobangi Sharks before the Disciplinary Committee over allegations that the club brought the game into disrepute by taking their relegation dispute to the High Court.
In a statement of claim dated September 1, 2026, FKF accused the Sportpesa Premier League side of violating local, continental and FIFA statutes after challenging its demotion from the top flight through an ordinary civil court.
The dispute dates back to the conclusion of the 2025/26 season, when the federation implemented new promotion and relegation regulations.
The FKF 2025/2026 season was concluded in June 2026. "The conclusion marked the implementation of key decisions of the National Executive Committee in particular regard to how the relegation and promotion of teams will be determined."
Sharks finished 16th in the 2025/26 season and were automatically relegated under the new regulations. The club, however, maintained that the 2019 rules should have applied, as they provided for a relegation play-off rather than automatic demotion.
FKF maintain that the regulations had already been changed before the season began.
"The National Executive Committee vide a Resolution dated September 19, 2025, abolished the FKF Rules and Regulations Governing Kenyan Football (2019), replacing them with the FKF Rules and Regulations Governing Kenyan Football (2025), thereby abolishing the relegation and promotion playoffs that had been established under the 2019 Rules."
Sharks first challenged the decision at the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT), seeking to overturn the application of the 2025 regulations.
"Sports Disputes Tribunal Case No. E044 of 2026 Kariobangi Sharks vs FKF, where it sought the nullification of the Rules and Regulations Governing Kenyan Football 2025 and instead the use of the 2019 Rules, thereby challenging the automatic relegation criteria."
The SDT dismissed the case on August 10, upholding the validity of the 2025 regulations. Sharks subsequently moved to the Milimani High Court.
FKF has taken issue with that move, arguing that its statutes, as well as FIFA, prohibit members from pursuing football disputes in ordinary courts.
"Despite the Sports Dispute Tribunal dismissing the Petition they had filed, the Respondent has since taken the dispute to ordinary courts against the clear provisions of the FKF and the FIFA Statutes."
The court battle has also affected preparations for the 2026/27 FKF Premier League season, whose scheduled start was disrupted amid the legal dispute.
"The net effect of the High Court decision is that the league is now in jeopardy to the extent that there exists an interim injunction against implementing the decision of the Sports Dispute Tribunal, including commencement of the league which had been slated for the 29th of August 2026."
The High Court later allowed the rest of the league to proceed but maintained that Kariobangi Sharks and Mombasa United remain excluded pending determination of the substantive matter.
In its disciplinary charge, FKF cited provisions in FIFA, CAF and its own statutes that restrict members from taking football disputes to ordinary courts.
"Recourse to Ordinary Courts is prohibited unless specifically provided for in the FIFA Regulations. Recourse to Ordinary courts is prohibited unless specifically provided for in the FIFA Regulations."
FKF also referred to CAF regulations requiring affiliates to resolve disputes through arbitration rather than civil litigation. "National associations, leagues, clubs or members of clubs shall not be permitted to bring before a court of law disputes with CAF or other Associations, clubs or members of clubs. They shall submit any such disputes to an arbitrator appointed by mutual agreement and fully comply with his decisions."
The summons has nevertheless raised questions among football stakeholders, particularly over the composition and authority of the FKF Disciplinary Committee following the National Executive Committee's earlier decision to dissolve its judicial organs.
Critics have also pointed to previous cases in which FKF sought judicial intervention in ordinary courts, including disputes involving Nairobi United and Gor Mahia.
FKF, however, maintain that their Disciplinary Committee has jurisdiction over the matter and can impose severe sanctions if Sharks are found guilty, including a ban from all football activities. "This matter falls within the jurisdiction of the FKF Disciplinary Committee to the extent that the said actions of the respondent amount to bringing the game into disrepute, failure to comply with the FKF Statutes and taking football matters to ordinary courts."
The High Court is scheduled to issue further directions on September 21 and 24, 2026, as the dispute over Sharks' relegation continues to cast uncertainty over the Kenyan top flight.
