Kenyan Premier League

The Kenyan Premier League (KPL), 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

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

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.

Sponsorship

The league's growth and increased fan engagement have historically attracted various corporate partners. While the league previously maintained a long-standing broadcasting relationship with SuperSport and equipment deals with Umbro and Puma, the sponsorship landscape has shifted significantly in recent years.

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 on 31 August 2023 by a major broadcasting agreement with Azam TV. 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.

Most recently, on 17 September 2025, the FKF and SportPesa entered into a long-term partnership. This 10-year deal, valued at KSh1.12 billion (approx. US$8.6 million), returned the betting firm to the league's primary sponsorship slot.^[3]

Title sponsor history

The league has undergone several rebrands based on its title sponsorship agreements:

• Tusker Premier League (2012–2015): On 21 August 2012, East African Breweries signed a KSh170 million deal to rename the league after its Tusker brand.^[4]
• SportPesa Premier League (2015–2018): SportPesa first acquired naming rights in 2015 in a deal worth KSh450 million. This partnership introduced a new 12 kg brass trophy manufactured in Italy.^[5] The deal ended in 2018 when the company temporarily ceased Kenyan operations.^[6]
• BetKing Premier League (2020–2021): After a period without a title sponsor, the FKF announced a five-year, KES 1.2bn deal with BetKing Kenya in July 2020.^[7] However, this agreement was terminated in 2021.^[8]
• SportPesa League (2025–2035): In September 2025, SportPesa returned as the title sponsor in a 10-year agreement. Under this current deal, 60% of the funds are distributed directly to the 18 member clubs, while the remaining 40% supports the federation in managing the competition.^[9]

Competition

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): 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.^[11] 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.

2024–25 teams

The league's most popular teams are rivals A.F.C. Leopards and Gor Mahia last title-winning season in 2024, while A.F.C. Leopards won their 12th league title in 1998.

Previous winners

Source: RSSSF – Kenya – List of champions

Total titles won

Top scorers in past seasons

"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."

— – Joe Kadenge speaking in October 2010 on his days as a player with Maurice Ochieng.^[12]

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]

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)

Multiple hat-tricks

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)

See also

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

References

1. ^ "SportPesa League unveiled, pumps in Ksh1.12 billion to transform Kenyan football". Daily Nation. 2025-09-30. Retrieved 2025-10-01.
2. ^ Eshitemi, Rodgers (24 November 2020). "FKF unveils StarTimes as official Premier League broadcast partners". Standard Media
3. ^ Reporter, B. T. (2025-09-25). "SportPesa League Launches With Sh1.12B investment". Retrieved 2025-10-01.
4. ^ "KPL now Tusker PL in Sh170m deal". 98.4 Capital FM. 21 August 2012.
5. ^ "New SportPesa Premier League trophy unveiled". 30 October 2015. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016.
6. ^ "SportPesa to end Kenya football league sponsorship over tax". BBC News. 2017-06-23.
7. ^ Ross, Martin (2020-07-16). "FKF heralds eight-figure Kenyan Premier League title sponsorship". SportBusiness
8. ^ Fletcher, Robert (2021-08-09). "Kenyan Premier League terminates BetKing sponsorship deal". iGB
9. ^ "SportPesa returns as FKF Premier League sponsor in Sh1.12bn deal". NTV Kenya. 2025-10-01.
10. ^ "Summary – Premier League – Kenya". soccerway.com.
11. ^ "KPL embraces changes for new season". 4 July 2020.
12. ^ 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)
13. ^ James Waindi. "Sonyi fears his son Ochieng' will down Gor Mahia". Retrieved 15 July 2012.

External links

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