Court freezes promotion and relegation in 3 Kenyan leagues
Reading Time: 2min | Mon. 15.06.26. | 16:01
The case is set for mention on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, before a panel comprising Allan Mola, Peris Alela Mukoko and Luke Wamugunda
The kerfuffle surrounding promotion and relegation in Kenyan football has taken another dramatic turn after the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) issued interim orders freezing the implementation of the Football Kenya Federation's (FKF) revised promotion and relegation structure.
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In a ruling delivered on Friday, 12 June 2026, Deputy Chairperson Allan Mola Owiny certified as urgent a petition filed by Andrew Leif against the FKF National Executive Committee, FKF and other parties.
The Tribunal subsequently issued temporary injunctions restraining the federation from promoting or relegating teams across the FKF Premier League, National Super League (NSL) and Division One for the transition from the 2025/26 season to the 2026/27 campaign.
The orders also bar FKF from recognising, implementing or giving effect to the newly proposed promotion and relegation regulations pending the hearing and determination of the matter.
The case is set for mention on Wednesday, 17 June 2026, before a panel comprising Allan Mola, Peris Alela Mukoko and Luke Wamugunda.
The latest development adds to a growing list of disputes that have found their way to the SDT as clubs seek clarity over the structure of Kenyan football competitions.
Just days earlier, relegated FKF Premier League side Kariobangi Sharks had moved to the Tribunal challenging FKF's decision to scrap the promotion and relegation play-offs.
The club argued that the federation's move significantly altered the competitive framework governing movement between the top flight and the National Super League after the conclusion of the season.
The twin cases now spur the uncertainty surrounding the transition into the 2026/27 season, with clubs across the football pyramid awaiting definitive direction on the composition of leagues and the criteria governing promotion and relegation.