NAIROBI: The 2026/27 SportPesa League gets under way today, but the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) still faces unresolved legal disputes over its leadership, even as a promotion and relegation row that delayed the season for weeks was settled only hours before kickoff.

Where the leadership fight began

On April 24, nine of the 14 members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) reportedly resolved to suspend President Hussein Mohammed, acting Secretary General Dennis Gicheru and NEC member Abdullahi Yussuf Ibrahim. The resolutions placed Vice President McDonald Mariga in charge as acting president. The NEC cited an investigation into allegations linked to an insurance payment for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) intervened on April 27. Deputy Chairperson Allan Mola Owinyi certified the case as urgent and issued a temporary injunction barring Mariga and ten others from implementing the April 24 resolutions. The Tribunal subsequently extended the orders to a mention scheduled for May 12. It said the subject matter remained live and that it needed to prevent the case from being overtaken by events before the parties were heard. It also took note of an inquiry opened by FIFA.

The dispute moved to disciplinary proceedings on May 21. The SDT stayed proceedings by the FKF Disciplinary Committee against Mariga under a charge sheet dated May 19. It also restrained the federation from initiating similar proceedings against him pending the hearing of his application.

The league that would not start

The second dispute centred on the 2025 promotion and relegation regulations, which provide for the bottom three Premier League sides to be relegated automatically and the top three National Super League sides to be promoted. Kariobangi Sharks, who finished 16th, argued that the 2019 regulations should apply, which would have required a playoff.

On August 10, the SDT dismissed the club's case and upheld the 2025 regulations. Sharks subsequently moved to the High Court.

Further legal challenges followed. The High Court in Murang'a barred FKF from starting the league until a playoff involving Sharks and Mombasa United was held, while the High Court in Kiambu directed the federation to include Mombasa United as the 18th team.

On September 18, FKF informed clubs that the league's kickoff had been postponed until further notice. In a statement issued on September 21, the federation said it had no safe option while conflicting court orders remained in place. It also warned that the court cases raised concerns about third-party interference under FIFA statutes.

Mediation, and a second leg that never ended

On September 24, FKF Communications Director Jeff Kinyanjui announced an agreement reached through mediation to resolve the playoff dispute. Mombasa United won the first leg 2-1 at Mbaraki Stadium on October 1.

The return leg at Ulinzi Sports Complex on October 6 was abandoned in the second half. Kariobangi Sharks were leading 2-1 on the night, leaving the tie level at 3-3 on aggregate, when a penalty was awarded to Mombasa United. Sharks players protested, supporters invaded the pitch, and referee John Sulwe was attacked.

Leagues and Competitions Committee chairman Peter Chege said the committee was awaiting reports from the clubs, match officials, security personnel and CAF officers before summoning both teams to determine the next course of action. He maintained that the abandonment would not disrupt the season, saying the court had given FKF the green light to begin competition.

The verdict

The committee delivered its decision on Friday, October 9, after hearing from both clubs. It ruled that Kariobangi Sharks had forfeited the second leg, awarding Mombasa United a 2-0 win under the 2019 rules. That made Mombasa United the playoff winners and confirmed their promotion to the top flight, while Sharks drop to the National Super League.

The committee found that Sharks players disrupted the match in the 64th minute by protesting the referee's decision to award the penalty. It also referred the violence and misconduct to the FKF Disciplinary Committee for further action.

A verdict, but not the end of the story

The ruling settles the question that held up the season: Mombasa United will play in the top flight and Kariobangi Sharks will not. The abandoned second leg at Ulinzi Sports Complex ended a playoff that had already been fought in tribunals and High Courts, and it gave FKF a clear decision just as the new campaign opens.

The matter is not fully closed. The Disciplinary Committee must still deal with the attack on referee John Sulwe and the pitch invasion, and it remains to be seen whether Sharks accept the outcome or challenge it. For a federation that is also still defending its leadership before the Sports Disputes Tribunal, the opening of the 2026/27 season brings a firm decision on the pitch, but not yet an end to the disputes behind it.