Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Vice President McDonald Mariga has called for an end to the dispute surrounding the delayed 2026/27 league season, urging football stakeholders to respect the federation's constitution, applicable regulations and court decisions.
Mariga, a former Harambee Stars captain, said the uncertainty had come at a critical moment for Kenyan football, with Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania preparing to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
His intervention follows weeks of uncertainty over the rules governing promotion and relegation for the new season.
FKF had initially set August 22, 2026 as the start of the 2026/27 Premier League campaign after approving the domestic football calendar in June.
The federation opened player registration on June 21 and said clubs would be required to complete registration and licensing ahead of the scheduled kick-off.
However, legal challenges over FKF's revised 2025 regulations disrupted those plans.
In June, the High Court issued orders preventing FKF from relying on the 2025 rules to administer the new season, including decisions on promotion and relegation.
The court direction effectively returned the process to the FKF 2019 Rules and Regulations.
Under those rules, promotion and relegation are primarily based on sporting merit, with two automatic promotions and relegations and provision for a play-off involving the third-placed National Super League side and the 16th-placed Premier League team.
In a statement on Monday, Mariga said the dispute should now be treated as an opportunity for stakeholders to restore order rather than deepen divisions.
“As a former footballer and captain of the Harambee Stars, I am extremely saddened by the current state of affairs in Kenyan football and, in particular, the continued uncertainty surrounding the resumption of our leagues,” he said.
He said the prolonged disagreements risked undermining clubs, players and sponsors at a time when Kenya needed a stable domestic football structure ahead of AFCON 2027.
“The delay in commencing the 2026/27 league season is particularly concerning given that Kenya, together with our East African partners, is preparing to host CAF Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) 2027 next year. We cannot afford to enter such an important period with our domestic football distracted by avoidable institutional disputes. Our clubs need certainty, our players need competitive football, our sponsors need confidence, and our national teams need a properly functioning football ecosystem,” the statement read.
A recent court decision subsequently cleared the way for the Premier League season to begin under the 2019 rules, with the first fixtures scheduled for August 31. The ruling placed the disputed 2025 regulations on hold as the legal challenge continues.
Mariga maintained that the court directions should provide sufficient clarity for football administrators and other stakeholders to move forward.
“Recent court directions have provided important clarity on the application of the FKF 2019 Rules and Regulations in commencing the 2026/27 season, including the mandatory play-off which those rules require. This clarity should now provide an opportunity for all parties to step back, respect the decisions of the courts and, most importantly, work together towards an orderly and lawful resolution,” he said.
He urged FKF leadership, its National Executive Committee, clubs, leagues, players and other institutions to use constitutional mechanisms to resolve disagreements.
“The issue before us should not be about who wins and who loses. Kenyan football must win. I therefore appeal to all stakeholders, including the FKF leadership, NEC, clubs, leagues, players, officials and other football institutions, to choose the easiest and most constructive route available to us: dialogue, consultation and strict adherence to the FKF Constitution and applicable regulations.”
The FKF Vice President also warned against placing individuals or factions above the federation's constitutional framework.
“The FKF Constitution is our common foundation. No individual, office, faction or interest should place itself above it. Equally, every stakeholder must respect the legitimate constitutional mandates of FKF organs and the decisions of the courts,” he said.
Kenya's preparations for AFCON 2027 have intensified, with government and football officials working on security, stadiums and national-team preparations. The Sports Ministry has also urged FKF to accelerate preparations for Harambee Stars, saying Kenya must be ready to compete when the tournament arrives.
Mariga said the domestic league must therefore resume on a firm administrative and legal foundation.
“The league should not merely kick off; it must kick off on a clear, lawful and administratively sound footing. Clubs invest significant resources in preparing for a season and deserve certainty regarding the competition calendar, rules and structures,” he said.
He maintained that the current dispute should not overshadow the wider interests of Kenyan football.
“The football season must return. Our clubs deserve to play. Our players deserve to compete. Our fans deserve football. And Kenyan football deserves governance that is stable, predictable and credible,” Mariga said.
He concluded by urging stakeholders to prioritise dialogue over further litigation.
“Let us talk before we litigate. Let us consult before we decide. Let us follow the Constitution before we create new disputes.”