The 2026/27 FKF Premier League season has been thrown into further uncertainty after a High Court directive effectively prevented Football Kenya Federation from starting the campaign amid the continuing dispute over Kariobangi Sharks’ relegation.
Justice Janet Mulwa of the Milimani High Court directed parties in the case to maintain the situation that existed on August 10, when the Sports Disputes Tribunal delivered its ruling on Sharks’ relegation challenge.
The case is scheduled to return to court on September 21.
The development forced FKF to postpone all Round One fixtures that had been scheduled between August 31 and September 2, leaving clubs, players and supporters without certainty over when the new season will begin.
The dispute centres on the regulations governing promotion and relegation.
Kariobangi Sharks finished 16th in the 18-team top flight last season and were relegated under the 2025 regulations, which provided for the automatic relegation of the bottom three clubs.
Sharks challenged the decision, arguing that the older 2019 regulations should apply.
Under those rules, only the bottom two clubs would be automatically relegated, while the team finishing 16th would enter a promotion-relegation playoff against the third-placed side from the National Super League.
The Sports Disputes Tribunal initially upheld FKF’s position, prompting Sharks to take the dispute to the High Court.
The situation has become more complicated because a separate case at the Murang’a High Court produced a different interim position, allowing the league to proceed under the 2019 regulations.
The conflicting legal directions have left uncertainty over both the start of the season and the eventual composition of the league.
FKF has also questioned whether the Milimani High Court is the appropriate forum for the dispute, arguing that appeals involving decisions of the Sports Disputes Tribunal should go through the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The postponement has come after clubs had already spent weeks preparing for the new campaign.
Teams had recruited players, conducted training camps and organised pre-season programmes around the expected start of the season.
A prolonged delay could disrupt player contracts, coaching programmes, club finances and the wider Kenyan football calendar.
The timing is particularly sensitive because Kenya is preparing to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with Uganda and Tanzania.
A prolonged interruption to domestic football could therefore raise wider concerns about the country’s football administration and preparations for the continental tournament.
For now, the league remains in limbo, with stakeholders waiting for further directions from the Milimani High Court on September 21.
