Kenyan Premier League
 | |
| Founded | 1963 |
|---|---|
| Country | Kenya |
| Confederation | CAF |
| Number of clubs | 18 |
| Level on pyramid | 1 |
| Relegation to | National Super League |
| Domestic cup(s) | FKF Cup Super Cup Top 8 Cup |
| International cup(s) | CAF Champions League CAF Confederation Cup |
| Current champions | Gor Mahia (2025–26) |
| Most championships | Gor Mahia (22 titles) |
| Broadcaster(s) | Azam TV KBC |
| Website | www |
| Current: 2025–26 Kenyan Premier League | |
The Kenyan Premier League (KPL), also the FKF Premier League, officially known as the SportPesa League, is a professional league for men's football clubs in Kenya.[1] Standing at the top of the Kenyan football league system, the league was formed in 1963 under the Kenya Football Federation, but is now controlled by the Football Kenya Federation. It is contested by 18 clubs and operates on a promotion and relegation system with the Kenyan National Super League. Gor Mahia are the current champions, having won the 2025–26 season.
The league was mostly stable until the late 1990s and since then its performance had been considered below average, with many of the league's clubs having little or no finances to support themselves. However, when[when?] SuperSport became an official league partner, the league has taken on a more serious role with teams becoming professional and the majority of the clubs managing to get kit sponsorships. This saw the level of competition improve compared to past.
Origin
[edit]Following constant wrangles between the then football governing administration and the eventual deteriorating of the National Football League, participating clubs opted out and decided to form a company that would see the smooth running of the league in a professional and transparent manner. In 2003, the Kenyan Premier League was created and registered as a limited liability company whose ownership was shared amongst all the sixteen participating clubs and was to be affiliated to the Kenya Football Federation.
The league was known as the Kenya National Football League from its creation in 1963 to 1996, the Kenyan Super League in 1973 and 1997 and, from 1998, the Kenyan Premier League.
Corporate structure
[edit]The Kenyan Premier League is operated and run as a private limited company incorporated in October 2003 under the Companies Act of Kenya. It is fully owned and managed by 18 member shareholders. It is affiliated to the Football Kenya Federation, which is also a shareholder and voting member of the KPL board of directors. Non-voting members include the Kenya Football Coaches Association and the Kenya Football Referees Association.
Sponsorship
[edit]
The league's growth and increased fan engagement have attracted various corporate partners. The league previously maintained a long-standing broadcasting relationship with SuperSport and equipment deals with Umbro and Puma. On 24 November 2020, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) signed a seven-year broadcasting deal with StarTimes worth US$1.1 million (KSh110 million) annually.[2] This was followed by a major broadcasting agreement with Azam TV in August 2023. The seven-year deal, valued at US$9.1 million (KSh1.3 billion), established Azam as the official broadcast partner, with an initial payment of US$1 million and a 10% annual increment for subsequent seasons. On 17 September 2025, the FKF and SportPesa entered into a long-term partnership. This 10-year deal, valued at KSh1.12 billion (US$8.6 million), returned the betting firm to the league's primary sponsorship slot.[3]
Title sponsor history
[edit]Competition
[edit]There are 18 clubs in the Kenyan Premier League.[10] During the course of a season, traditionally from February to November, but switched to August to May in 2018, each club plays the others twice (a double round-robin system), for a total of 34 games. If points are equal, the goal difference and then goals scored determine the winner. If still equal, the ordering is determined by their head-to-head records. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank. The two lowest placed teams are relegated to the National Super League, with its top two teams promoted in their place. The 16th placed team squares off with the third-best team from the National Super League for the third promotion slot.[11]
Previous winners
[edit]Source: RSSSF – Kenya – List of champions
Total titles won
[edit]| Club | Winners | Winning years |
|---|---|---|
| Gor Mahia | 22 | 1968, 1974, 1976, 1979, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1987, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018, 2018–19, 2019–20, 2022–23, 2023–24, 2025–26 |
| Tusker | 13 | 1972, 1977, 1978, 1994, 1996, 1999, 2000, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2016, 2020–21, 2021–22 |
| A.F.C. Leopards | 12 | 1966, 1967, 1970, 1973, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1992, 1998 |
| Ulinzi Stars | 4 | 2003, 2004, 2005, 2010 |
| Luo Union | 2 | 1964, 1975 |
| Oserian | 2001, 2002 | |
| Nakuru AllStars | 1 | 1963 |
| Feisal | 1965 | |
| Utalii | 1997 | |
| Sony Sugar | 2006 | |
| Mathare United | 2008 | |
| Sofapaka | 2009 | |
| Kenya Police | 2024–25 |
Top scorers in past seasons
[edit]"This man was a like a lion my friend, he had no mercy with goalkeepers. Most of them used to run away from goal when they see him because he would kill you with the shots. There was no joke. He was on fire. Leave the kids of nowadays alone; you score only 12 goals and you're top scorer? Our days were tough."
The league record for most goals scored in one season is currently held by Maurice Ochieng, who completed the 1976 season with 26 goals for Gor Mahia.[13] His former teammate, Joe Kadenge, praised him as a lethal striker in front of goal.[12]
| Year | Player | Club | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 |  Maurice Ochieng |
Gor Mahia | 26 |
| 2006 | Boniface Ambani |
Tusker | 21 |
| 2007 | Kevin Ngugi |
Coast Stars | 15 |
| 2008 | Francis Ouma |
Mathare United | 15 |
| 2009 | John Baraza |
Sofapaka | 15 |
 Emeka Joseph |
Tusker | 15 | |
| 2010 | John Baraza |
Sofapaka | 15 |
| 2011 | Stephen Waruru |
Ulinzi Stars | 12 |
| 2012 | John Baraza |
Sofapaka | 18 |
| 2013 | Jacob Keli |
Kenya Commercial Bank | 17 |
| 2014 |  Dan Sserunkuma |
Gor Mahia | 16 |
| 2015 | Jesse Were |
Tusker | 22 |
| 2016 | John Makwatta |
Ulinzi Stars | 18 |
| 2017 | Masoud Juma |
Kariobangi Sharks | 17 |
| 2018 | Erick Kapaito |
Kariobangi Sharks | 16 |
| 2018–19 | Allan Wanga |
Kakamega Homeboyz | 17 |
| Umaru Kasumba |
Sofapaka | 17 | |
| Enosh Ochieng |
Ulinzi Stars | 17 | |
| 2019–20 | Timothy Otieno |
Tusker | 14 |
| 2020–21 | Erick Kapaito |
Kariobangi Sharks | 24 |
| 2021–22 | Derrick Otanga |
KCB | 16 |
| Elvis Rupia |
Kenya Police | 27 | |
| Benson Omala |
Gor Mahia | 19 | |
| Moses Shumah |
Kakamega Homeboyz | 17 | |
| Paul Okoth[14] |
Ulinzi Stars | 19 |
Multiple hat-tricks
[edit]| Rank | Country | Player | Hat-tricks |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | |
Elvis Rupia | 5 |
| 2 | |
Erick Kapaito | 4 |
|
John Makwatta | ||
| 4 | |
Benson Omala | 3 |
|
Jesse Were | ||
| 6 | |
Enoch Agwanda | 1 |
|
Boniface Akenga | ||
|
Elvis Barasa | ||
|
Ojok Deogracious | ||
 |
Ibrahim Joshua | ||
|
Lawrence Juma | ||
|
Masoud Juma | ||
|
Patrick Kaddu | ||
 |
Meddie Kagere | ||
|
Michael Karamor | ||
|
Sydney Lokale | ||
|
Boniface Muchiri | ||
|
Paul Mungal | ||
|
Keiphas Mutuu | ||
|
John Mwangi | ||
|
Enosh Ochieng | ||
|
Raymond Ochieng | ||
|
Bernard Odhiambo | ||
|
Vincent Ogolla | ||
|
George Ogutu | ||
|
Michael Olunga | ||
|
Felix Oluoch | ||
|
Justine Omwando | ||
|
Mwingi Shami Kibwama | ||
|
Erisa Ssekisambu | ||
|
Dan Sserunkuma | ||
|
Jacques Tuyisenge | ||
 |
Victor Umune | ||
|
Philip Wanjala | ||
|
Stephen Waruru | ||
|
Brian Yakhama | ||
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ "SportPesa League unveiled, pumps in Ksh1.12 billion to transform Kenyan football". Daily Nation. 2025-09-30. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
- ↑ Eshitemi, Rodgers (24 November 2020). "FKF unveils StarTimes as official Premier League broadcast partners". Standard Media.
- ↑ Reporter, B. T. (2025-09-25). "SportPesa League Launches With Sh1.12B investment". Retrieved 2025-10-01.
- ↑ "KPL now Tusker PL in Sh170m deal". 98.4 Capital FM. 21 August 2012.
- ↑ "New SportPesa Premier League trophy unveiled". 30 October 2015. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016.
- ↑ "SportPesa to end Kenya football league sponsorship over tax". BBC News. 2017-06-23.
- ↑ Ross, Martin (2020-07-16). "FKF heralds eight-figure Kenyan Premier League title sponsorship". SportBusiness.
- ↑ Fletcher, Robert (2021-08-09). "Kenyan Premier League terminates BetKing sponsorship deal". iGB.
- ↑ "SportPesa returns as FKF Premier League sponsor in Sh1.12bn deal". NTV Kenya. 2025-10-01.
- ↑ "Summary – Premier League – Kenya". soccerway.com.
- ↑ "KPL embraces changes for new season". 4 July 2020.
- 1 2 Dennis Machio (24 October 2010). "Kenya's all time top scorer Maurice Sonyi honored". Retrieved 15 July 2012. (Portion of Joe Kadenge quote translated from Swahili)
- ↑ James Waindi. "Sonyi fears his son Ochieng' will down Gor Mahia". Retrieved 15 July 2012.
- ↑ "Kenya Premier league". Soccerway. Retrieved 2026-08-03.
External links
[edit]- Kenyan Premier League at FIFA (archived)
- Kenya – List of Champions at the RSSSF
- KPL website (archived)
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