Kenyan Premier League: Fingers crossed as court set to rule on decision to lock out two clubs

Zoo Kericho FC players after they draw 1-1 against AFC Lepards during their Sportpesa Premier League match at Kenyatta Stadium Machakos on Sunday 14/05/17.PHOTO.BONIFACE OKENDO

The Court of Appeal sits tomorrow morning to rule on an application filed by Nakumatt and Zoo Kericho to be reinstated in the Kenyan Premier League.

Both clubs, together with Football Kenya Football Federation (FKF), have moved to the country’s second highest court after being kicked out of the KPL by the High Court two weeks ago.

Tomorrow’s ruling will therefore be eagerly awaited and could have far reaching ramifications on how the KPL is run. First, should the appellate court rule against the two clubs, Kenya could be banned by world football body, Fifa.

The world football governing body prohibits recourse to ordinary courts in resolving disputes.

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa has been summoned to Fifa headquarters this week in view of the ruling by the High Court.

Should the clubs be locked out, it would also lead to massive job losses as close to 100 players and officials will be rendered jobless.

According to Nakumatt FC chairman Bernard Mosomi they will have to let go of 37 people, who are employed in the football club.

“Whoever went to court clearly did not understand the implication of his action. We have employed 37 people who include players and officials and should we be locked out, they will have to be released because we cannot keep them,” he said.

The Nakumatt boss also expressed fears his club could be open to litigation as the players and officials have running contracts.

“We have engaged them for various periods on the basis that we take part in the KPL. If that is removed then we have to let them go and this exposes us to litigation,” he said.

He further said that the club has invested close to Sh40 million in taking part in the league and this investment will go up in smoke should they be locked out.

Zoo Kericho chairman Ken Ochieng said they are also at a crossroads after the ruling.

“Our players are devastated by the ruling. We were promoted to the top league this season and done very well for ourselves and even some of our players were called to the national team and then this. It is devastating and and could end the careers of some promising players,” he said.

Ochieng argued that the High Court should have let them take part in the KPL until the end of the season and allow their orders to be implemented from next year to ensure that no one is inconvenienced by the ruling.

Former FKF Sam Nyamweya filed a case at the High Court wanting the top league not to be expanded to 18 teams and the court agreed with him. The court also declared club licensing unconstitutional in a move that could also affect the participation of local clubs in continental tournaments.