The Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) has issued interim orders temporarily blocking the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) from relegating Kariobangi Sharks from the FKF Premier League.
In its ruling, the Tribunal certified the matter as urgent and granted a temporary injunction restraining FKF from enforcing or acting on a decision that would have resulted in the club’s automatic drop from the top tier.
Kariobangi Sharks finished in position 16 in the concluded KPL 2025/2026 with 38 points after a season of 12 losses out of the 34 matches played.
The ruling comes after FKF announced the scrapping of the promotion and relegation play-off matches. SDT had previously directed the federation to apply the 2019 regulations for the 2025/26 season, having found that the 2025 regulations were not properly adopted.
Tribunal Freezes FKF Relegation Decision Amid Dispute
The Sports Disputes Tribunal ruled that the matter raised serious legal and sporting questions that required immediate intervention to preserve the “substratum of the suit” while the case is heard.
FKF is now barred from implementing the contested decision or taking any administrative steps that would assume Kariobangi Sharks’ relegation status.
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Interim orders also prevent FKF from finalizing or publishing the FKF Premier League 2026/2027 season composition in a way that excludes the club.
The court further instructed that all parties maintain the current league status until the dispute is fully determined.
Kariobangi Sharks challenged the FKF letter referenced FKFGS/MISC/EXT/180 dated 6 June 2026, which outlined the federation’s position on automatic relegation.
“THAT, equally, a temporary injunction is hereby issued restraining the Respondent from finalising, announcing, or publishing the composition of the FKF Premier League for the 2026/2027 season in a manner that excludes the Petitioner and/or take any steps that assume, treat as conclusive, or give effect to the automatic relegation of the Petitioner from the FKF Premier League for the 2026/2027 season, including but not limited to issuing any communications to clubs, sponsors, or the media to that effect,” read part of the ruling.
Kariobangi Sharks Challenge Relegation Rules and League Format
According to Kariobangi Sharks, relegation procedures must include a mandatory play-off, especially for teams finishing in positions subject to survival matches.
Sharks ended the campaign in the lower half of the table amid a tightly contested relegation battle involving Sofapaka and Bidco United, with the bottom three sides facing demotion.
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Kariobangi Sharks argues that any change in competition format should have been communicated clearly before the season began and approved through proper FKF governance structures.
The club is also seeking clarification on the legality and timing of the decision-making process that led to the relegation directives.
The 2025/26 FKF Premier League season featured 18 teams. Under the existing league structure, the bottom teams are relegated to the National Super League, and the top NSL sides are promoted to fill the spots.
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