Kenyan Premier League club chairmen have warned that the 2026/27 season should not kick off without a clear governance framework, accusing the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) of failing to implement reforms jointly agreed upon nearly two months ago.
In a letter dated July 17 and addressed to FKF Secretary General Dennis Gicheru, the chairmen questioned the federation's commitment to establishing an autonomous top-flight league, warning that the upcoming season "cannot and will not proceed under a cloud of confusion and without a clear leadership framework."
The concerns stem from resolutions reached during a meeting held on May 26 between FKF President Hussein Mohammed and Premier League club chairmen.
Following that meeting, both parties publicly announced a roadmap towards creating a fully autonomous body to manage the Premier League beginning with the 2026/27 season.
Among the key resolutions was the immediate establishment of a Transition League Management Committee (TLMC) to oversee the process, while ensuring the transition remained compliant with the FKF Constitution and existing contractual obligations with league sponsors SportPesa and Azam Media.
However, the club chairmen now say there has been little progress on those commitments.
In the letter, they questioned whether the resolutions were ever presented to the FKF National Executive Committee (NEC) during its July 11 meeting and sought clarification on what steps the federation has taken to operationalise the transition.
The clubs also expressed concern over FKF's announcement that the new Premier League season will begin on August 22, arguing that the decision appears to contradict the spirit of the May agreement, which envisaged governance reforms before the commencement of the new campaign.
They further cited ongoing court cases and uncertainty over the regulatory framework governing the league, warning that launching another season without resolving those issues risks creating fresh confusion for clubs, players and supporters.
"Has the Federation taken any steps to formulate applicable rules and regulations to formalise a Transition Committee?" the chairmen asked, while also demanding to know what measures have been taken to kick-start independent management of the country's top-flight league.
To seek answers, the chairmen have invited FKF's National Executive Committee, together with officials from the federation's Leagues and Competitions Department and Committee, to a meeting at Nairobi's Serena Hotel on July 21.
The latest developments mark a significant shift from the optimism that followed the May meeting, when FKF and the clubs jointly committed to building a professionally managed and autonomous Premier League.
With just over a month before the scheduled start of the new season, the governance dispute threatens to overshadow preparations, as clubs insist that clarity on the league's leadership structure must come before the first ball is kicked.
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