Migori Chairman Aziz Supports FKF Promotion, Relegation Policy
Football Kenya Federation's decision to change the rules governing promotion and relegation of teams in the FKF Premier League and the National Super League was communicated at the start of the season and disgruntled teams should not seek litigation after the season has already been decided.
Migori Youth Chairman Aziz Abdi questioned the decision by some clubs to challenge the promotion, relegation and play-off structure in court, saying the rules were clearly communicated before the start of the season.
According to Aziz, the dispute should not be dragged to court since teams had all the season to win games and call for a review of the regulations.
Aziz weighed in on the ongoing promotion and relegation dispute, questioning why some clubs are contesting a format that was in place and known to all teams from the beginning of the season.
According to him, all clubs were informed before the season started that three teams would earn promotion from the National Super League while four teams would be relegated. He says the same format was reflected on the league table throughout the campaign and was approved.
The dispute involves Mombasa United, who finished third in the National Super League (NSL) and were in line for automatic promotion, and Kariobangi Sharks, who finished 16th in the Kenya Premier League (KPL) and are seeking the enforcement of promotion/relegation play-offs through the courts.
Aziz noted that all clubs were informed before the season that three teams would be promoted and four relegated, with the same structure reflected on the league table throughout the campaign.
"To be honest, I'm really surprised. Before the league started, we received a letter stating that three teams would be promoted and four teams would be relegated, and from day one the league table showed that," said Abdi.
He also pointed out that FKF regulations allow the federation's Leagues and Competitions Department to review and recommend the promotion and relegation format at the start of each season before it is approved by the National Executive Committee (NEC).
"The FKF rules are clear. At the start of every season, the federation, through the Leagues and Competitions Department, can sit down and recommend the promotion and relegation format, then take it to the NEC meeting. Once it is approved, it becomes effective. They did that, so I'm surprised to see clubs going to court when they already knew that finishing at the bottom meant relegation," he added.
His comments come as the legal battle over the 2025/26 promotion and relegation structure continues, with the final outcome set to determine whether Mombasa United's promotion is upheld or play-offs are introduced.