Court orders FKF to reinstate Mombasa United in Premier League

The High Court in Kiambu has ordered Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to include Mombasa United Football Club in the 2026/2027 SportPesa Premier League season as the 18th team, pending the hearing and determination of a petition challenging its exclusion.

Justice Francis Nyungu Kyambia issued the conservatory order on Thursday after certifying as urgent an application filed by the Center for Litigation Trust.

In the case, HCCHRPET/E107/2026, Center for Litigation Trust versus Football Kenya Federation, the court directed FKF to publish provisional revised fixtures incorporating Mombasa United and allow the club to participate in the top-flight league, subject to the federation’s other requirements.

“Pending the inter-parties hearing, the respondent is hereby ordered to publish provisional revised fixtures to include Mombasa United Football Club as the eighteenth club and permit Mombasa United Football Club to participate in 2026/2027 SportPesa Premier League subject to other requirements of the respondent,” the order states.

The court directed the applicant to serve FKF with the application within three days of the order, while the federation has been given three days from the date of service to file and serve its response.

The matter is scheduled for an inter-partes hearing on September 29.

Justice Kyambia also warned that failure to comply with the order could attract penal consequences.

The ruling comes about two weeks after the High Court in Nairobi issued orders in a related case involving Kariobangi Sharks and FKF.

In case HCTA/E081/2026, Kariobangi Sharks Football Club versus Football Kenya Federation, the Nairobi court preserved the status quo that existed before the Sports Disputes Tribunal’s August 10, 2026 decision, pending further directions on September 21.

The latest order means the Premier League will provisionally have 18 teams when the 2026/2027 season begins this month, although the composition could change depending on the outcome of the pending cases or any application to vary or set aside the order.