By GPC Sports Reporter
Football Kenya Federation has postponed the start of the 2026/27 SportPesa League after a series of court orders created uncertainty over the competition’s composition and opening fixtures.
The league was due to kick off on Saturday, September 19, but FKF said it had been left with no option but to suspend the start after courts issued orders affecting the participation of Kariobangi Sharks and Mombasa United.
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The federation had on September 10 communicated to clubs that the new season would begin on September 19 and circulated the first-round fixtures after earlier court directions had allowed it to proceed with preparations.
However, the legal dispute intensified after Kariobangi Sharks filed an application on September 16 at the Milimani High Court Tribunal seeking to stop the league from starting. The court declined to issue interim orders stopping the kick-off and directed the parties to return on September 21.
A separate application filed on September 17 in the High Court in Murang’a resulted in a temporary injunction barring FKF from proceeding with or giving effect to the results of the opening round or subsequent rounds until a promotion and relegation play-off is conducted between Kariobangi Sharks and Mombasa United.
The dispute centres on the relegation of Sharks, who finished third from bottom in the 2025/26 Premier League, and the promotion of Mombasa United, who finished third in the National Super League.
The situation was further complicated on September 19 when the High Court in Kiambu directed FKF to publish provisional revised fixtures including Mombasa United as the 18th club and allow the coastal side to participate in the 2026/27 SportPesa League, subject to other federation requirements.
FKF said the conflicting court orders made it risky to proceed with the scheduled matches, particularly because the Murang’a order raised the possibility of results being nullified.
“With the league scheduled to commence on the 19th September 2026, and the various court orders issued, the Federation was left with no other option but to postpone the commencement,” FKF said in a statement.
The federation said proceeding with the matches could expose it, its officials and clubs to legal consequences.
Revised schedule
The postponement comes after several weeks of uncertainty over the start of the new season. FKF had initially targeted August 31 before the schedule was revised following court proceedings and disputes over the promotion and relegation framework.
FKF said it respects the courts and the rule of law but expressed reservations over the legal challenges.
“Whereas FKF respects the courts and the rule of law, it expresses its reservations on the decisions made in these matters,” the federation said, arguing that the proceedings were being used to frustrate the development of football in Kenya.
The federation also raised the issue of third-party interference, saying the situation was contrary to the spirit of FIFA statutes.
FKF did not announce a new kick-off date, saying it remained committed to starting the league at the earliest opportunity.
“The Federation remains committed to ensuring the league commences at the earliest time possible,” it said.
The postponement affects clubs that had already prepared for the opening weekend, including defending champions Gor Mahia, who were scheduled to host Murang’a Seal at Nyayo National Stadium, and AFC Leopards, who were due to face Bandari.
Other fixtures included Mathare United against APS Bomet, Posta Rangers against Shabana and Ulinzi Stars against Tusker.
