The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has announced big changes to Kenyan football leagues, hoping to make the sport better and stronger. These plans include making the top league smaller to create more exciting games, splitting the second league into two regional parts to save money and create local buzz, and starting a new third league to help smaller clubs grow.
The changes aim to solve financial problems and boost the national team, but they still need approval from the clubs involved.
The FKF’s most notable proposal involves reducing the top-tier FKF Premier League (FKFPL) from its current 18 teams to a more competitive 16. This change is slated to take effect from the 2026-2027 season.
To facilitate this transition, four teams will face relegation from the FKF Kenya Premier League at the end of the upcoming 2025-2026 season, a significant increase from the usual two or three. Subsequently, three teams will be relegated annually, with two gaining promotion from the tier below.
This move marks a return to a structure that the Kenyan top flight has seen before. The KPL previously operated with 16 teams before expanding to 18 in 2017.
The rationale behind the current reduction is to concentrate talent, thereby increasing the quality and intensity of matches, and to make the league more attractive to sponsors and fans. Critics of the expanded league have often pointed to a dilution of talent and increased financial strain on clubs.
Reshaping the second tier National Super League
The National Super League (NSL), currently a 24-team competition, is also set for a significant transformation. It will be rebranded as the Kenyan Super League and divided into two zones of 12 teams each, effective next season.
This strategic division aims to alleviate the burden of extensive travel costs for clubs across Kenya’s vast geography and to ignite more localized rivalries, which could in turn boost fan engagement.
Under the proposed structure, the winner of each of the two zones will secure automatic promotion to the FKFPL.
Additionally, a third promotion spot will be contested through a playoff, starting in the 2026-2027 season, between the second- and third-placed teams from each zone.
Conversely, the bottom three teams from each Kenyan Super League zone will be relegated to the newly established third tier.
The FKF intends to cap the total number of teams across both zones at 28 in the future, striving for a more streamlined and manageable league.
Introducing the FKF Conference League
Perhaps the most innovative aspect of the FKF’s plan is the introduction of the FKF Conference League, a new third tier launching in the upcoming season.
This league will comprise four regional conferences: Eastern, Western, Northern, and Southern. This decentralized approach is designed to provide smaller, grassroots clubs with a clear path to ascend the national football pyramid.
The champion of each regional conference will earn automatic promotion to the Kenyan Super League.
Furthermore, the second-placed teams in each conference will compete in playoffs for two additional promotion slots. Teams finishing in the bottom three of their respective conferences will be relegated to the fourth-tier FKF Regional League.
This structured pyramid system is akin to successful models in other footballing nations, offering opportunities for clubs in various regions to develop and contribute to the overall strength of Kenyan football.
Driving force behind the changes
These comprehensive proposals are a direct response to persistent challenges within Kenyan football, notably the financial struggles faced by many clubs and the inconsistent performance of the national team, Harambee Stars, on the continental stage.
A more competitive top league is expected to raise performance standards for players, while the regionalized lower tiers are envisioned to ease financial pressures on clubs and more effectively nurture local talent across the country.
The FKF emphasizes that these changes are geared towards achieving “competitiveness and viability” for Kenyan football.
The success of these reforms hinges on their approval by the clubs, who are expected to vote on the proposals soon.
For fans, the implications are varied: a reduction in top-tier teams could lead to higher-quality matches, but it also carries the risk of some beloved clubs being relegated.
Conversely, an increase in local matches in the lower tiers could reignite regional football passion.
The coming seasons will be crucial in determining whether this bold new game plan translates into sustained growth and success for Kenyan football.
