The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has confirmed the postponement of all Kenyan Premier League Round One matches scheduled for August 31 to September 2, 2026.
The federation has cited cited the need for further consultations on the management of the new season.
In a communication to participating clubs, FKF’s Leagues and Competitions Department said the delay would allow FKF, clubs and league sponsors to deliberate and provide direction on the 2026/27 campaign.
“This is so as to allow for deliberations between the Federation, participating Clubs and the League sponsors that will provide direction and guidance on the management of the League for the upcoming Season,” the federation said.
Round One programme had included matches involving defending champions Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards, Kenya Police, Tusker, Ulinzi Stars, Shabana and Bandari, among other clubs. The initial schedule was spread across three days, with matches set for August 31, September 1 and September 2.
League Start Caught in Promotion and Relegation Dispute
The postponement follows weeks of uncertainty over the composition and regulations governing the new Premier League season.
A major dispute has centred on FKF’s promotion and relegation rules, particularly the regulations used to determine which clubs would remain in the top flight and which teams would be promoted from the National Super League.
The legal battle intensified around the position of Kariobangi Sharks, whose relegation was challenged after FKF applied its 2025 promotion and relegation regulations. The dispute contributed to court proceedings that initially prevented the federation from starting the new campaign as planned.
On Friday, however, the High Court in Murang’a cleared the way for FKF to proceed with the league under the federation’s 2019 rules while the wider legal dispute over the validity of the 2025 regulations continues.
Justice Dorah Chepkwony declined to determine the validity of the 2025 rules at the preliminary stage, instead directing that the competition proceed under the 2019 regulations pending determination of the substantive petition.
The ruling had appeared to provide FKF with the legal basis to commence the season, with reports subsequently indicating that the federation had scheduled the first matches for August 31.
Clubs Raise Concerns Over Season Management
Despite the court development, concerns among clubs over the organisation and timing of the new season persisted.
Several Premier League clubs were unhappy with the proposed start date and the circumstances surrounding the release of the new fixture list. The disagreement added another layer to an already complicated situation involving the league’s regulations and composition.
The Kenya Footballers Welfare Association has also raised concerns about the prolonged uncertainty, warning that continued delays could affect players whose careers and livelihoods depend on regular competition. KEFWA president James Situma described the situation as untenable and called for the disputes surrounding the league to be resolved.
On Saturday, FKF President Hussein Mohammed said the proposed August 31 kick-off was not final and that consultations with clubs could continue until an agreement was reached.
He distanced the federation’s top leadership from the fixture list that had been released earlier, saying the Leagues and Competitions Department had published it without authorization.
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