Kariobangi Sharks and Mombasa United have agreed to settle their long-running promotion and relegation dispute through a two-legged play-off, providing a possible breakthrough to the stalemate that has delayed the start of the 2026/27 FKF Premier League season. The agreement was reached following mediation involving the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), with the two clubs accepting the play-off route to determine which side will occupy the contested Premier League position. FKF has scheduled the first leg for October 1, 2026, in Mombasa, with the return fixture set for October 6, 2026, in Nairobi.
Sharks and Mombasa United Settle on Play-Off
The dispute has centred on the promotion and relegation framework for the 2026/27 season. Kariobangi Sharks finished 16th in the 2025/26 FKF Premier League, while Mombasa United finished third in the National Super League (NSL).
Under the revised 2025 regulations, the bottom three Premier League clubs were to be relegated automatically, while three NSL teams were to earn promotion. However, the earlier promotion and relegation framework provided for a play-off involving the 16th-placed Premier League team and the third-placed NSL side. The disagreement over which regulations should apply triggered legal challenges and contributed to uncertainty over the composition of the new Premier League season.
Court Dispute Delayed League Kick-Off
The disagreement eventually spilled into the courts, with different orders affecting FKF’s plans for the new campaign. The 2026/27 Premier League was initially scheduled to begin on September 19, but FKF postponed the opening after conflicting court directives created uncertainty over whether the federation could proceed with the fixtures. One court directive required FKF to first conduct the Sharks-Mombasa United play-off, while another directed the federation to provisionally include Mombasa United as the 18th team in the top flight.
FKF said proceeding under the conflicting orders could expose the federation, clubs and officials to legal risks and potentially raise questions about the validity of match results.
New Players Allowed in the Play-Off
One of the major issues surrounding the proposed play-off was the composition of the two clubs’ squads. Under the latest agreement, both Kariobangi Sharks and Mombasa United will be allowed to field their newly registered players in the two-legged contest. The decision removes one of the key obstacles that had complicated efforts to organise the fixtures, particularly because Mombasa United had already been preparing for the new season after finishing third in the NSL.
Two Matches to Decide Premier League Place
The first encounter will be played in Mombasa on October 1, giving Mombasa United home advantage in the opening leg. The two teams will then meet again in Nairobi on October 6, where the aggregate outcome of the two matches will determine which club secures the contested Premier League position. For Mombasa United, the play-off offers an opportunity to complete their push for promotion to the top flight. For Kariobangi Sharks, the two matches provide a chance to retain their Premier League status after their 16th-place finish last season.
A Possible End to the League Stalemate
The agreement marks a significant development after weeks of uncertainty that affected the start of the 2026/27 campaign. The prolonged dispute had raised concerns among clubs, players and other football stakeholders as teams remained uncertain about when the new season would properly get underway.
With Sharks and Mombasa United now agreeing to face each other, attention will shift to the October fixtures and the legal and administrative steps required to facilitate the delayed league season. The outcome of the two-legged tie is expected to provide clarity on the final position in the Premier League and help FKF move forward with the organisation of the 2026/27 campaign.
