Football Kenya Federation vice-president McDonald Mariga has called for constitutional order and dialogue as uncertainty over the start of Kenya’s 2026/27 Premier League season deepens amid court intervention and disagreements over competition regulations.
The new season was expected to begin on Monday, August 31, but the opening round was postponed as FKF and Premier League clubs seek a way out of a dispute that has thrown the competition into uncertainty.
An urgent meeting between FKF and the clubs, initially scheduled for Monday, has also been moved to Wednesday, September 2, following what the federation described as a request from the clubs and subsequent internal consultations.
The disagreement centres partly on which competition regulations should govern the new season, with the 2019 and 2025 regulations containing different provisions on promotion, relegation and foreign players.
Recent court directions have returned attention to the 2019 regulations, including their requirement for a promotion and relegation play-off.
Mariga, a former Harambee Stars captain, said the uncertainty was damaging Kenyan football at a particularly important time.
“Football is about competition, passion, opportunity and unity. It should bring us together, not keep us permanently divided in disputes over governance, interpretation of regulations and institutional authority,” Mariga said in a statement dated August 31.
He welcomed the clarity provided by the courts and urged all parties to respect both judicial decisions and FKF’s constitutional structures.
“Recent court directions have provided important clarity on the application of the FKF 2019 Rules and Regulations in commencing the 2026/27 season, including the mandatory play-off which those rules require,” Mariga said.
“This clarity should now provide an opportunity for all parties to step back, respect the decisions of the courts and, most importantly, work together towards an orderly and lawful resolution.”
Under the 2019 regulations, the bottom two Premier League clubs are automatically relegated and the top two National Super League teams promoted, while the team finishing 16th in the top flight contests a play-off against the third-placed NSL side.
The later regulations provided for three automatic relegations and promotions, one of the differences that contributed to uncertainty over the composition of the Premier League.
The regulations also differ on foreign-player limits, creating another complication for clubs that had planned their squads around the newer framework.
Beyond the immediate regulatory dispute, questions remain over the administration and governance of Kenya’s top flight, with clubs previously pushing for greater autonomy in the management of the Premier League.
Mariga acknowledged the importance of establishing functioning structures before competition resumes.
“We must also ensure that the administrative and governance structures necessary to run our competitions are properly constituted and functional,” he said.
“The league should not merely kick off; it must kick off on a clear, lawful and administratively sound footing.”
Mariga argued that the dispute should not be reduced to determining winners and losers between FKF, clubs or other football institutions.
“The issue before us should not be about who wins and who loses. Kenyan football must win,” he said.
The crisis comes at a significant moment for Kenya, which is preparing alongside Uganda and Tanzania to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
Mariga warned that prolonged instability in the domestic game could undermine preparations for the continental tournament, with players needing regular competition, clubs requiring certainty and sponsors seeking confidence in the football structure.
“We cannot afford to enter such an important period with our domestic football distracted by avoidable institutional disputes,” he said.
Attention will now turn to Wednesday’s meeting between FKF and Premier League clubs, which could determine the way forward and provide greater clarity on when the postponed 2026/27 season will finally begin.
Mariga called for dialogue rather than further litigation as stakeholders attempt to resolve the impasse.
“Let us talk before we litigate. Let us consult before we decide. Let us follow the Constitution before we create new disputes.”
Attention now shifts to Wednesday’s meeting between FKF and Premier League clubs, where the two sides will be under pressure to agree on the regulations and administrative framework for the competition, clear the uncertainty over its composition and establish when the postponed 2026/27 season can finally kick off.