FKF Premier League to close end of May ahead of CHAN preparations
Federation has agreed that improvement of officiating in league matches and the thorny issue of security standards remains a top priority
The 2024/25 top tier Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League will effectively end on May 31 to pave way for the August, 2025 CHAN (Africa Nations Championships) tournament which Kenya co-hosts.
This decision was the highlight of a consultative meeting between the FKF leadership and premiership clubs held at Kandanda House in Nairobi Tuesday evening. The meeting was also called to forge a new path in league management structures moving forward with all clubs representatives in attendance. The meeting also focused also on key areas including; sponsorship, officiating, club licensing, and the overall structure of the competition.
FKF office led by President Hussein Mohammed took through the all-exhaustive convention with members exchanging feedback on ways of improving the league. On the matter of league sponsorship and awards; the federation confirmed that ongoing discussions with potential sponsors, with updates to be provided in due course.
“We held a productive consultative meeting with FKF Premier League clubs at Kandanda House, focusing on key areas to strengthen the league. We provided updates on ongoing sponsorship discussions, outlined plans for referee capacity building and anti-match-fixing legislation, and reaffirmed that the season will conclude by 31 May to allow proper CHAN preparations. Clubs also agreed to meet every two months to enhance league management, while the ongoing club licensing review will include workshops to support compliance. These engagements are crucial in building a well-structured and professionally run league,” said Mohammed through a post on his official X account.
At the same time, with regards to officiating and match-fixing, FKF agreed that improvement of officiating in league matches and the thorny issue of security standards remains a top priority. FKF outlined plans to enhance referee capacity through training programs and announced the fast-tracking of a draft bill to tackle match-fixing, with a draft expected in two months.
Clubs also agreed in principle to hold structured engagement meetings regularly to address league management and governance. Additionally, the ongoing club licensing review will include workshops to support compliance and ensure all teams meet the required standards.
FKF Premier league teams representative Jectone Obure (CEO Mathare United) was categorical that working as unit for betterment of the competition was the way to go;
““This was a productive meeting, and as clubs, we are aligned on the need for structured engagement to address key areas affecting the league. A well-managed league benefits everyone – players, clubs, and fans,” he noted even as clubs signed a commitment to fostering a more competitive and professionally managed championship.
