NAIROBI, Oct. 10 — The delayed start of the 2026-27 Kenyan Premier League faces further uncertainty after a promotion-relegation playoff was abandoned because of crowd trouble on Tuesday.
The second leg between Kariobangi Sharks and Mombasa United at the Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi was halted in the second half following a pitch invasion. Amid the continuing uncertainty, a parliamentary committee has called for the establishment of a normalization committee to take over the administration of Kenyan football. The proposal is aimed at addressing persistent leadership disputes, financial issues and controversies surrounding the governance and regulations of the delayed domestic league. United entered the match with a 2-1 advantage from the first leg in Mombasa the previous week and extended its aggregate lead inside the opening minute. Sharks responded by scoring twice to lead 2-1 at halftime and level the tie at 3-3 on aggregate. The match took a dramatic turn midway through the second half when referee John Sulwe awarded United a controversial penalty. Sharks players confronted the official following the decision before fans invaded the pitch, with the referee struck amid the ensuing disorder.
Sulwe was escorted from the field to safety by military and private security personnel stationed at the venue. Both teams eventually left the pitch, and the match was abandoned after the referee was deemed unable to continue. Tuesday’s developments mean the start of the new Kenyan Premier League season, already delayed by two months, could be postponed further. United and Sharks had agreed to a two-legged playoff following mediation overseen by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) three weeks earlier, with both clubs laying claim to the 18th and final place in the top flight. United argued that it had earned promotion from the National Super League after finishing third in the standings under amended 2025 league rules allowing three teams to be promoted and relegated.
Sharks maintained that it was entitled to a promotion-relegation playoff after finishing 17th in last season’s Premier League under 2019 regulations. The club argued in court that the 2025 amendments had not been introduced through the proper legal process, leaving the 2019 rules in effect. Sharks had successfully obtained a High Court injunction postponing the start of the league until the matter was heard and determined. However, a mediated agreement reached at the end of last month cleared the way for the two teams to contest the playoff.
The delayed start of the Premier League has also raised concerns over whether the national team, the Harambee Stars, will be adequately prepared for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania. The continental tournament, known as Pamoja AFCON 2027, is scheduled to run from June 19 to July 17, 2027. Tuesday’s incident is the latest in a series of problems to affect Kenyan football and has intensified calls for changes to its administration under FKF President Hussein Mohammed.
At the start of the current international break, the national team staged a strike over unpaid allowances ahead of its 2027 AFCON qualifiers. Last-minute efforts allowed the team to train only once before a 1-1 draw against Eritrea in Nairobi, followed by a 1-0 defeat to Guinea in its subsequent Group D qualifier. The team also drew 0-0 with Rwanda in a friendly on Monday. Despite automatically qualifying for Pamoja AFCON 2027 as co-host, Kenya’s recent form has raised questions over its readiness for the tournament.
The parliamentary committee also raised concerns over the FKF’s handling of the national team’s preparations. “Further, concerns have arisen regarding outstanding payments to Harambee Stars players and allegations that the work permits for the team head coach, Benni McCarthy, and his technical staff are yet to be approved,” it said. The committee said the situation risked undermining player welfare and morale, disrupting football development and affecting the country’s preparations for upcoming international competitions.
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