Mixed reactions as FKF mulls over new leagues format

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has proposed sweeping changes to the country’s football league structure aimed at improving competition and creating a more streamlined pyramid with clear promotion and relegation pathways.

Among the most notable proposals is the reduction of teams in the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) from 18 to 16 starting from the 2026/27 season.

FKF’s League and Competitions Committee Chair, Peter Kamau, defended the proposed reforms, stating that the focus should now be on quality over quantity for the sake of developing Kenyan football.

“We are trying to have a league that is commercially viable, a league that will be qualitative and competitive.

“We are not getting sponsors mainly because we are looking at quantity over quality.” said Kamau.

“The changes are still under public participation, and once the process is complete, they will be ratified.”

The National Super League (NSL) will be split into two zones of 12 teams starting next season, with each zonal winner earning automatic promotion to the KPL.

Three teams from each zone will be relegated.

However, Fortune Sacco Chairman Sylvester Odero criticized the changes, saying they might reduce overall competitiveness of the league and focus should be shifted towards the lower divisions.

“Dividing the NSL into zones could make one division stronger than the other where you find majority of the teams coming from the Nairobi and Central region will be more competitive to teams in the Western Region and so I think both KPL and NSL should remain the same.” Odero warned.

 “Lower-tier leagues should instead focus on exposing young talent where certain age bracket is confined to the lower divisions for their development.”

Former Harambee Stars coach Twahir Muhidin supported the proposals, saying reverting to a 16-team top-flight format would help struggling clubs.

“The 2009 format was more manageable. Adding two more teams has financially strained many clubs, especially in a league that is not fully fledged with some clubs lacking sponsors,” Muhidin said.

Additional reforms include expanding the FKF Conference League from two zones to four regional conferences, Eastern, Western, Northern, and Southern. Each conference winner will gain promotion to the NSL.

Further down the pyramid, FKF Division Two will be split into nine regional zones, while the fifth tier will consist of county leagues, each capped at 64 teams across zones of no more than 16.

The proposed structure that is currently in the public participation stage aims to establish a more competitive, transparent, and sustainable football system in Kenya.