Kenyan Premier League , Football Kenya Federation to decide on 18-club format

Kenya Premier League CEO Jack Oguda. photo/DENNIS OKEYO

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has formed a committee to look into the proposal to have the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) increase club representation to 18 teams from next season.

The committee will have two officials each from FKF and KPL and will report back in two weeks.

Members of the committee are Robert Asembo and Michael Esakwa (FKF) while George Odhiambo and Jack Oguda will represent KPL.

FKF chairman Sam Nyamweya said the committee will look at the advantages and disadvantages of having an expanded league after gathering views from various stakeholders.

"It is upon their report that we will make the final decision on the matter," said Nyamweya. "They will also consider the costs implication of running a bigger league."

The federation has proposed an 18-team league for next season. On Monday FKF met various stakeholders to discus the matter. The meeting was attended by KPL and FKF together with representatives from league broadcast sponsors SuperSport.

If the committee returns a yes verdict to expand the league, it will now be up to KPL to change their constitution to allow for a bigger league next season. At the moment the KPL constitution only allows 16 teams.

According to the proposal by FKF, Nairobi City Stars, who finished in 15th place, will not be relegated and two Super League teams Nakumatt and Kakamega Homeboyz will be involved in a play-off this weekend where the winner will earn automatic promotion to next year's league.

In a related development, the federation has also formed another six-man committee to look into the matter of changing the season calendar from February kick-off to August.

The members of the committee are Oguda, Esakwa, Nick Mwendwa, Odhiambo, Arnold Kanyangonda and Andrea De Silva. The committee will present its report after 30 days.