Blow as Sports Dispute Tribunal orders against FKF decision on promotions and relegations

The Sports Dispute Tribunal (SDT) has issued an interim order of injunction to Football Kenya Federation (FKF) staying the recent decision by its National Executive Committee (NEC) that announced no promotion nor relegation will take place in the FKF Premier League, National Super League, Women Premier League, Men's Division One and Women's Division One leagues last week.

The petition was granted on Tuesday 15 November after APS Bomet and Kona Rangers, teams that were supposed to be promoted to the FKF Premier League and National Super League (NSL) respectively, filed an application to declare the Resolutions made by the FKF NEC on 9th November 2022 as null and void.

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Through a verdict delivered by SDT Chairman John Ohaga, the application filed was ordered as urgent and the injunction issued pending the full hearing and determination of the case till Tuesday 22 November which was listed as the mention date.

“UPON READING the Certificate of Urgency of Arthur Kungu, together with the Notice of Motion dated 14 November 2022 and presented to this Tribunal on 15 November 2022 by Counsel for the Petitioners/Applicants AND UPON READING the Supporting Affidavits of Kent Libiso and Chemutai Rose sworn on 14 November 2022 together with the annexures thereto.

IT IS HEREBY ORDERED: That the Application be and is hereby certified as urgent.

That an interim order of injunction be and is hereby issued staying the decision by the Football Kenya Federation National Executive Committee on promotions and relegations, pending the full hearing and determination of this Application;

That the Application be served upon the Respondents immediately and in any event before close of day on Friday 18th November, 2022.

That the matter be listed for mention for directions on Tuesday 22nd November 2022 at 2:30p.m. via Microsoft Teams," the ruling read.

Dimba Patriots, Mayenje Santos and Kibera Soccer Women, who were also affected by the NEC decision, and Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba have been listed as interested parties in the case.

While Bomet and Kona Rangers had had also applied to have the FKF Leagues and Competition Committee ordered not to start the league on 19th and 26th November as had earlier been announced, the SDT failed to provide direction in its orders.