Kariobangi Sharks, Mombasa United agree to relegation-promotion playoff

Kariobangi Sharks and Mombasa United have agreed to settle their promotion-relegation matter through a two-legged playoff following a mediation process initiated by Football Kenya Federation (FKF) under the leadership of President Hussein Mohamed.

The agreement, as communicated by FKF Head of Communication Jeff Kinyanjui, will see Mombasa United host the opening leg on October 1, with Sharks staging the return match in Nairobi on October 6.

Both clubs have also agreed that their newly registered players will be eligible to feature in the playoff, giving the teams a clear path towards the decisive fixtures.

"We have an agreement for the  playoffs (Sharks vs Mombasa United to proceed with newly registered players after the mediation process initiated by FKF. The first game in Mombasa on October 1, return leg in Nairobi on October 6," noted Kinyanjui.

The playoff comes against the backdrop of the prolonged delay in starting the 2026/27 FKF Premier League, with the composition of the top flight among the issues that have held up the new campaign.

The High Court in Murang’a had directed that the season should not commence before Sharks and Mombasa United played a promotion-relegation playoff.

In a separate development, the High Court in Kiambu directed FKF to include Mombasa United as the 18th team and publish provisional revised fixtures, adding to the pressure on the federation to find a workable solution.

The mediation process has now produced an agreement between the two clubs, allowing the matter to be decided through competitive football rather than further administrative uncertainty.

For Sharks, the tie offers an opportunity to maintain their place in the top flight, while Mombasa United will be seeking to secure promotion and earn a spot in the country’s top tier football league.