Kenyan Premier League

The Kenyan Premier League (KPL), officially known as the FKF Premier League, is a professional league for men's football clubs in Kenya. 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 2022–23 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 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 periods.

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.

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 the 18 member clubs with each club being a shareholder. It is affiliated to 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.

The current CEO is Jack Oguda and Frank Okoth is the current COO and LNO. Okoth is also in charge of logistics.

The improved level of competition and eventual attention given to the league by the fans has seen major companies in Kenya lining up to partner with clubs. At the moment, the league does not have a title sponsorship but it has a broadcasting deal with SuperSport. Umbro is the official referee kit supplier and is also the official ball provider.

On 18 October 2012 the league signed a KSh.10 million/= (US$117,275; £73,242 stg; €90,052) deal with Puma, which made them the Official ball supplier for the league and its clubs with immediate effect.^[1]

On 24 November 2020, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) unveiled StarTimes as their official broadcasting partners for the FKF Premier League, through signing a seven-year deal worth US$1.1 million (KSh.110 million/= per year).^[2]

On 31 August 2023, Football Kenya Federation(FKF) unveiled Azam TV as their official broadcasting partners for the FKF premier league, after they signed a Seven-Year deal worth US$9.1 million(ksh1.3 billion). As per the agreement, Azam would pay an initial fee of Sh145 million(US$1 million) to the federation for the first season, with an increment of 10%($100,000/sh14.5 million)for the subsequent Seasons.

On 21 August 2012, the Kenyan Premier League signed a KSh.170 million/= (US$2.02 million; £1.28 million stg; €1.62 million) deal with East African Breweries to rename the league to the Tusker Premier League, the most lucrative deal in Kenyan football history at the time.^[3]

On 6 August 2015, East African betting company SportPesa gained the naming rights to the league, signing a four-and-a-half-year deal with the KPL reportedly worth KSh.450 million/= (approx. US$4.36 million, £2.84 million stg. or €3.87 million) to rename the league to the SportPesa Premier League.^[4] As part of the sponsorship, a new trophy was revealed by SportPesa and the KPL on 30 October 2015, with Gor Mahia, the 2015 champions, set to be its first recipient and retain the previous trophy for good. The trophy was manufactured in Italy, weighs 12 kg (26 lb) and is made of brass.^[5] In 2018, SportPesa ceased operating in Kenya and ended its sponsorship of the KPL.^[6]

In July 2020, the FKF has announced a title sponsorship deal for the KPL with online betting firm BetKing Kenya in a five-year deal worth a total of KES1.2bn ($11.2m/€9.8m), or an average of KES240m per year, with the league called the BetKing Premier League.^[7] The deal was terminated in 2021.^[8]

There are 18 clubs in the Kenyan Premier League.^[9] 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): once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 34 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned champion. 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.

In 2018 the league switched from a Feb/Nov calendar to an August to May competition to bring it in line with other countries.^[10] The 2018/2019 season bridges the gap running from December 2018 to July 2019 after which the seasons will align with those of European nations.

The league's most popular teams are rivals A.F.C. Leopards and Gor Mahia.last title-winning season in 2018, while A.F.C. Leopards won their 12th league title in 1998.

Team	Location	Stadium	Capacity	Head Coach
A.F.C. Leopards	Nairobi	Nyayo National Stadium	30,000	Tomáš Trucha
Bandari	Mombasa	Mombasa Municipal Stadium	10,000	John Baraza
Bidco United F.C.	Thika	Thika Municipal Stadium	20,000	Anthony Akhulia
Gor Mahia	Nairobi	Nairobi City Stadium	15,000	Johnathan McKinstry
Kakamega Homeboyz	Kakamega	Bukhungu Stadium	5,000	Patrick Odhiambo
Kariobangi Sharks	Nairobi	Kasarani Stadium	5,000	William Muluya
Kenya Commercial Bank	Nairobi	Nairobi City Stadium	15,000	Bernard Mwalala
Muhoroni	Muhoroni	Muhoroni Stadium	5,000	Charles Odero
Murang'a Seals	Murang'a	St Sebastién Park	5,000	Abdalla Juma
Nairobi City Stars	Nairobi	World Hope Stadium	5,000	Nicholas Muyoti
Nzoia Sugar	Bungoma	Sudi Stadium	5,000	Mike Mururi
Police FC	Nairobi	Police Sacco Stadium	3,000	Salim Babu
Posta Rangers	Eldoret	Utalii Grounds	10,000	John Kamau
Shabana	Kisii	Gusii Stadium	15,000	Sammy Omollo
Sofapaka	Nairobi	Nyayo Stadium	5,000	Zedekiah Otieno
Talanta	Nairobi	Nyayo Stadium	5,000	Jack Gatheru
Tusker	Nairobi	Kinoru Stadium	60,000	Robert Matano
Ulinzi Stars	Nakuru	Lang'ata Sports Complex	8,200	Anthony Kimani
Vihiga Bullets	Kakamega	Bukhungu Stadium	5,000	Mike Mururi

Bandari

Bidco

Nzoia

Rangers

Ulinzi

Wazito

Zoo

Nairobi

Nairobi teams:
A.F.C. Leopards
Kariobangi
KCB
Mathare
City Stars
Sofapaka
Tusker

Kakamega

Kakamega teams:
Homeboyz
Vihiga
Western Stima

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Location of 2020-21 Kenyan Premier League teams

Source: RSSSF – Kenya – List of champions

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.^[12] His former teammate, Joe Kadenge, praised him as a lethal striker in front of goal.^[11]

[*]Award was shared during that season

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
[*]2009	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
[*]2018–19	Umaru Kasumba	Sofapaka	17
[*]2018–19	Enosh Ochieng	Ulinzi Stars	17
2019–20	Timothy Otieno	Tusker	14
2020–21	Erick Kapaito	Kariobangi Sharks	24
2021–22	Derrick Otanga	KCB	16
2022–23	Elvis Rupia	Kenya Police	27
2023-24	Benson Omala	Gor Mahia	19

Most time topscorers

• 3 times
  • John Baraza (2009, 2010, 2012)

Most goals by a player in a single season

• 27 goals
  • Elvis Rupia (2022-23)

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

Most hat-tricks in single season

• 10 hat-tricks (2022-23)

Most hat-tricks by a player in a single season;

• 3 hat-tricks
  • Jesse Were (2015)

• Kenyan Women's Premier League
• Kenyan football league system

• Kenyan Premier League – official website
• Kenyan Premier League at FIFA (archived)
• Kenya – List of Champions at the RSSSF

• FKFPL Livescores