The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and clubs participating in the SportPesa League have agreed to begin the 2026/27 season on Saturday, September 19, 2026.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between FKF and representatives of the league clubs on Wednesday, September 16, where stakeholders discussed and resolved key issues ahead of the new campaign.
The agreement clears the way for preparations for the new season to proceed as scheduled, with clubs expected to begin their opening-round matches this weekend.
“FKF and SportPesa League clubs have agreed that the 2026/27 season will kick off on Saturday 19 September 2026,” the federation said in an official statement issued on Wednesday.
One of the key issues addressed during the meeting was the implementation of the foreign players' quota. Under the agreement reached with the clubs, each team will be allowed to register up to seven foreign players for the new season.
However, only five foreign players will be eligible to feature in any given league match. The arrangement provides clubs with flexibility in assembling their squads while maintaining a limit on the number of foreign players who can take part in a match.
“The clubs also signed a consent on the implementation of the foreign players' quota,” FKF said. The federation and clubs also reached an agreement on medical arrangements for league matches, with every match required to have two ambulances in attendance.
The provision is part of the agreed match-day medical arrangements and is intended to ensure emergency medical support is available during league fixtures.
According to FKF, the clubs also agreed on other matters that had already been complied with during the previous season.
The federation said the meeting was aimed at reviewing key issues affecting the start of the new campaign and ensuring that clubs were aligned on the arrangements for the season.
“FKF appreciates the clubs' participation in the meeting and the agreement reached on the key matters, which allows preparations for the new season to proceed as scheduled,” the federation said.
The September 19 start date means clubs now have a clear timetable for the opening round of matches after the discussions between the federation and team representatives.
The foreign player regulations are expected to be among the key squad-management considerations for clubs as they finalise their preparations.
Teams will be able to register seven foreign players but will have to select a maximum of five for each match, according to the agreement.
The requirement for two ambulances at every league match will also form part of the match-day operational arrangements for the 2026/27 campaign. FKF said the meeting provided an opportunity for stakeholders to address outstanding matters before the season gets underway.
“The Federation looks forward to the opening round of matches on Saturday, 19 September 2026,” the statement added.
The new season will therefore officially get underway on Saturday, with FKF expressing confidence that the agreements reached with the clubs will allow preparations and match-day arrangements to proceed according to schedule.
The federation's announcement brings to a close the discussions on the identified issues and provides clubs with the operational framework governing foreign-player registration and match participation, as well as medical requirements for league fixtures.
FKF thanked the clubs for their participation and cooperation during the meeting as preparations enter the final stages ahead of the opening matches.