The FKF Women’s Premier League has been plunged into uncertainty after the majority of clubs announced plans to boycott this weekend’s fixtures scheduled for 14–15 March 2026, escalating tensions between the teams and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
The standoff follows a caucus meeting held on 11 March, where league clubs unanimously resolved to withdraw from the upcoming matches unless their longstanding concerns are addressed. According to the clubs’ leadership caucus, 11 of the 12 teams in the league supported the decision, citing unresolved issues affecting the growth and sustainability of women’s football in the country.
Clubs involved in the meeting included traditional powerhouses and rising sides such as
Vihiga Queens, Ulinzi Starlets, Zetech Sparks, Kibera Soccer Women, Bungoma Queens, Trinity FC Women, Kayole Starlets, Soccer Assassins Women, Gideons Starlets, Kisumu All Starlets and Kisped Queens.
At the heart of the boycott are financial and administrative concerns that clubs say have persisted for months. Teams argue that agreed league grants have either been delayed or not released at all, forcing many of them to fund travel, accommodation, and player welfare from their own pockets.
The situation has reportedly left several clubs struggling to sustain operations during the season.
Beyond funding delays, clubs have also demanded transparency regarding financial resources meant for women’s football. These include funds from FIFA’s women development programmes, sponsorship revenues, and the overall budget allocated to the women’s league. Club officials claim they have not received a clear breakdown of how these funds are utilised.
Another major point of frustration is the uncertainty surrounding sponsorship. FKF had previously indicated that a sponsor for the league would be unveiled late last year, but that announcement has yet to materialise. The planned Women’s Cup competition has also remained in limbo, with no confirmed sponsor or kickoff date.
In addition, clubs have criticised what they describe as poor league management. Concerns raised include late communication of fixtures, inconsistent refereeing standards, and matches being scheduled at venues that lack proper facilities.
In response, the Football Kenya Federation has urged clubs to honour their scheduled fixtures, warning that a boycott could harm the reputation and stability of the league.
The FKF Women’s Premier League Clubs Caucus chairperson, Richard Teka, has confirmed the receipt of communication from FKF requesting them to honour matches over the weekend.
However, Teka has asked the Leagues and Competitions Committee to postpone this weekend’s fixtures, given that the host clubs have not been able to secure match venues.
The federation has also scheduled a meeting with all clubs on 17 March 2026, at Kandanda House in Nairobi in a bid to address the grievances and find a way forward.
However, the clubs’ leadership caucus maintains that the boycott decision will remain in place until concrete solutions are presented to address the challenges facing the league.
If the boycott proceeds, this weekend’s match week in the FKF Women’s Premier League could be postponed or cancelled altogether, potentially disrupting the season schedule and the ongoing title race.
The standoff also highlights deeper structural issues affecting women’s football in Kenya, particularly around funding, governance, and long-term sustainability.
With the scheduled meeting next week expected to bring both sides to the table, the coming days could prove decisive in determining whether the league resumes smoothly or faces a prolonged crisis.
Reacting to the planned boycott, FKF communications director Jeff Kinyanju said: “The conversation this week has been around concerns raised by clubs in the FKF Women Premier League, including the planned boycott of this weekend’s fixtures. These discussions show how much people care about the future of the women’s game.
“It is also important to clarify one point. The current Football Kenya Federation administration has not received funding from FIFA that is specifically set aside for women’s football. What has been happening is joint work with FIFA on a women’s football strategy that is expected to unlock funding once it is finalised. That work is still ongoing and the strategy will be made public soon.
That said, the bigger picture remains the same. Women’s football in Kenya deserves better support. Clubs need partners and sponsors, the leagues and competitions need investment, and WPL players should at the very least be able to earn basic salaries.
The work continues, and the hope is that the women’s game will keep growing and getting the support it deserves.
“Recently I appeared on a breakfast show on Sporty FM where I said that women’s football has helped put Kenya on the global map. Some people misunderstood the point I was making. What I meant is simple, it was a Kenyan women’s national team that qualified for the World Cup for the first time, and that is a milestone worth recognising.
“Women’s football in Kenya is clearly growing, but it also needs much more support to reach where it should be.”
