FKF Playoff Chaos Deepens as Kariobangi Sharks Row Heads to Court

FKF President Hussein Mohamed in a past media address. PHOTO/ FKF

Controversy regarding the Kariobangi Sharks’ match between the Kenyan Premier League and National Super League is far from being resolved by the Football Kenya Federation(FKF).

The case is about to go to court as the two conflicting rules of the Football Kenya Federation have made the legality of the match in question.

Matter lies in the match itself, which involves Kariobangi Sharks finishing 16th in the Kenyan Premier League against the 3rd placed team in the National Super League.

This match has historically been used to decide the last spot in the league for the upcoming year.

Documents received by the FKF’s Leagues and Competitions Department on July 3, 2025, indicated that the federation intended to apply the 2019 regulations for the 2025-26 season.

Those rules explicitly provide for a playoff between the team finishing 16th in the Premier League and the side placed third in the National Super League.

“Before the start of each season, the FKF National Leagues and Competition Committee must decide and announce the criteria to be used and the number of clubs to be promoted and relegated at the end of that season as above determined,” states Rule 2.7.2 of the FKF regulations.

FKF Conflicting Regulations Trigger Confusion

The situation became more complicated when FKF subsequently appeared to abandon the position communicated to clubs and began applying provisions contained in the 2025 regulations instead.

The 2019 FKF regulations, under Rule 2.7 on Promotion and Relegation, provide a clear framework on how movement between divisions should be handled.

“The principles of promotion and relegation shall be determined by the FKF National Executive Committee from time to time, in accordance with the FKF Constitution,” rule 2.7.1 of FKF says.

The regulations further state that promotion and relegation should generally be determined by results achieved on the field.

“Promotion and relegation shall normally be automatic, and shall not be governed by additional requirements other than performance on the field of play. The FKF National Leagues & Competitions Committee may institute end-of-season play-offs to determine promotion and relegation if it so deems fit,” reads Rule 2.7.3.

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Kariobangi Sharks Could Seek Legal Redress

The contradiction between the regulations communicated to clubs and the federation’s subsequent actions has left the fate of the playoff hanging in the balance.

Kariobangi Sharks are expected to challenge any decision to scrap the fixture, arguing that clubs had already been formally informed that the 2019 regulations would apply during the 2025-26 season.

The regulations also address situations where vacancies arise before the start of a season.

“Should a promoted team withdraw or be withdrawn from any FKF league or competitions before the commencement of a season, the FKF National Leagues & Competitions Committee may allow the next best finishing team of the lower league to be promoted to the respective league,” states Rule 2.7.4.

However, Rule 2.7.5 emphasizes that sporting merit remains the overriding principle.

“Rule 2.7.4 notwithstanding, Promotion, Retention and Relegation shall be based on Sporting merit.”

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