Prayers answered as SPL finally set to kick off after 48 days of dilemma

Despite the unresolved play-off matter, the league is now set to begin, with Mathare United hosting APS Bomet at Police Sacco Stadium today (2pm).

The SportPesa Premier League finally returns this weekend after 48 days of uncertainty, with clubs set to begin the 2026/27 season following a prolonged dispute over promotion and relegation that delayed the opening matches.

The new season was initially scheduled to kick off on August 22 but was put on hold after Kariobangi Sharks challenged the Football Kenya Federation's (FKF) decision to apply revised promotion and relegation rules.

Sharks, who finished 16th last season, argued that the 2019 regulations under which the league began should apply.

Under those rules, the bottom two teams are automatically relegated, while the third-bottom side faces a promotion-relegation playoff against a team from the National Super League (NSL).

However, the revised 2025 regulations introduced three automatic relegation places and three direct promotion slots, scrapping the playoff.

Source: The Standard Sports