The Sports Disputes Tribunal has ruled that the contested 2025 Football Kenya Federation promotion and relegation regulations were validly ratified by the FKF National Executive Committee and did not require approval from the General Assembly, a decision that could have a major impact on the structure of Kenyan football ahead of the new season.
In its ruling, the Tribunal also determined that the regulations underwent sufficient public participation before they were adopted, effectively dismissing the argument that the process used by FKF to introduce the regulations was procedurally inadequate.
The ruling means that, under the 2025 regulations, three teams from the National Super League are expected to earn promotion to the Kenyan Premier League, while three teams from the top flight will be relegated to the second tier, creating a three-up and three-down system for the new season.
However, despite the SDT ruling, the promotion and relegation process remains uncertain because the same regulations are still being challenged in a separate case before the High Court in Murang’a, meaning that the implementation of the Tribunal’s decision could be affected by the outcome of that case.
The Murang’a High Court case is therefore being closely watched by clubs, players and football officials because any decision issued by the court could directly influence whether the three-team promotion and three-team relegation system will be implemented as provided for in the 2025 regulations.
For the teams competing in the National Super League, the ruling provides renewed hope for those fighting for the three available promotion positions, while clubs in the Kenyan Premier League that are facing relegation will have to wait for further legal clarity before knowing whether the three-team relegation formula will ultimately take effect.
The latest development has once again highlighted the ongoing legal and administrative disputes surrounding the governance of Kenyan football, with the courts now playing a crucial role in determining how promotion and relegation will be handled.
For now, the SDT has upheld the validity of the regulations and confirmed that three teams should be promoted from the NSL and three relegated from the KPL, but the final implementation of the system will depend on the outcome of the separate High Court case in Murang’a.
