Darajani Gogo FC has moved to the High Court to challenge its relegation from the National Super League (NSL), accusing the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) of applying its competition rules inconsistently during the transition to the 2026/27 season.

The Kibra-based club, through its patron Dr Ahmed Kalebi, says FKF used the 2019 competition framework to determine an NSL promotion playoff for a place in the Premier League, while relying on the September 2025 restructuring criteria to relegate four NSL teams.

Darajani Gogo finished 17th in the 20-team NSL in the 2025/26 season. Under the 2019 framework, the club argues, only the teams finishing 18th, 19th and 20th would have been relegated, leaving Darajani Gogo in the second tier.

The club is therefore asking the High Court to examine whether FKF's decision to relegate it was lawful, rational and procedurally fair.

Darajani Gogo has sought leave to pursue judicial review, with the club seeking three main remedies: certiorari to quash the relegation decision, mandamus to compel FKF to reinstate it on the NSL fixture list and apply the 2019 rules consistently, and prohibition to prevent the NSL season from proceeding without the club.

The application also seeks urgent interim protection as the legal dispute is considered.

The club's case comes as FKF prepares to start the 2026/27 NSL season, with the composition of the second tier already complicated by the federation's changes to its promotion and relegation structure.

In its statement issued on Friday, October 23, Darajani Gogo said the dispute arose from what it considers selective application of the competition frameworks.

The club points to FKF's decision to stage an NSL-to-Premier League playoff involving Kariobangi Sharks and Mombasa United rather than automatically promoting teams under the promotion criteria announced in September 2025.

At the same time, Darajani Gogo says FKF applied the September 2025 criteria to the bottom of the NSL table and relegated four clubs, rather than using the 2019 framework under which three teams would have gone down.

The dispute follows an agreement between FKF, Kariobangi Sharks and Mombasa United that paved the way for a two-legged playoff to determine the Premier League place. The agreement, reached after mediation, removed one of the major issues that had delayed the start of the 2026/27 top-flight season.

Darajani Gogo's challenge now places the NSL under scrutiny, particularly because four Division One clubs have already earned promotion following the 2025/26 campaign.

Kibera Soccer, Kiminini Combined, Mfalme FC and Spitfire finished top of their respective Division One zones and were promoted under FKF's restructuring plan.

The legal challenge could therefore have implications beyond Darajani Gogo, as FKF may have to determine how its final NSL composition should be reconciled with the four clubs that have already secured promotion.

Darajani Gogo has also asked the court to prevent the NSL from proceeding without it while the case is pending.

The club says its judicial review application is based on the constitutional right to fair administrative action under Article 47 of the Constitution and the Fair Administrative Action Act, 2015.

It argues that decisions affecting clubs, players and their communities must be made through rules that are applied lawfully, fairly and consistently.

Despite taking the matter to court, Darajani Gogo says it remains open to discussions with FKF to find an amicable resolution.

Dr Kalebi said he supports the decision by club president Eng. Yusuf Swaleh to pursue the judicial review, with the club represented by lawyer Ilham Hisham Said.

The case now places the composition and start of the 2026/27 NSL under fresh uncertainty, with the court set to consider Darajani Gogo's request for protection as the club challenges the basis of its relegation.