Kenyan Premier League
The Kenyan Premier League (KPL), officially known today as the
FKF Premier League, is the top professional football division in Kenya.
It is organized by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and is widely recognized
as one of East Africa’s strongest and most historic leagues.
The league is home to major clubs such as Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards,
whose rivalry — the Mashemeji Derby — is one of Africa’s oldest and biggest football derbies.
History and facts
The origins of Kenyan top-flight football go back to the 1960s, shortly after the country gained independence. The formal Kenyan Premier League structure was introduced in the 1990s, and later modernized in the 2000s.
Gor Mahia are the most successful club in Kenyan football history, with more than 20 league titles. Close rivals AFC Leopards dominated earlier decades and helped shape the growth of the national league.
The league sends its champion to the CAF Champions League and the runner-up or cup winner to the CAF Confederation Cup.
League system
The Kenya Premier League consists of 18 clubs.
Each team plays the others twice — home and away — for a total of 34 matches per season.
The last-placed teams are relegated to the National Super League (NSL),
while the top NSL teams gain promotion to the KPL.
Table 1. Kenyan football league pyramid
| League | Tier |
|---|---|
| FKF Premier League (KPL) | 1 |
| National Super League (NSL) | 2 |
| FKF Division One | 3 |
Below these levels, football continues in regional and county leagues.
Stats
Teams with most titles
Table 2. Most Kenyan Premier League titles
| Club | Titles |
|---|---|
| Gor Mahia | 21 |
| AFC Leopards | 13 |
| Tusker FC | 13 |
| Sofapaka | 1 |
| Ulinzi Stars | 4 |
| Mathare United | 1 |
Gor Mahia, AFC Leopards and Tusker FC form the historic “Big Three” of Kenyan football.
Major stadiums
Table 3. Major stadiums in the Kenyan Premier League
| Stadium | City | Capacity |
|---|---|---|
| Nyayo National Stadium | Nairobi | 30,000 |
| Moi International Sports Centre (Kasarani) | Nairobi | 60,000 |
| Afraha Stadium | Nakuru | 10,000 |
| Ruaraka Grounds | Nairobi | 4,000–6,000 |
| Bukhungu Stadium | Kakamega | 30,000 |
Players
Famous players
- Victor Wanyama
- Mike Okoth (father of Divock Origi)
- McDonald Mariga
- Dennis Oliech
- Allan Wanga
- Musa Otieno
- Patrick Oboya
- Jesse Were
Kenyan Premier League timeline
1963
Kenya’s national football league is created after independence.
1990s
Early professional league structures are formed.
2009
The modern Kenyan Premier League era begins with TV broadcast deals.
2017
League adopted the 18-team structure.
2020s
FKF rebrands the league and modernizes competition rules.
References:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenyan_Premier_League
https://www.kpl.co.ke
https://www.rsssf.org
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kenyan_Premier_League
https://www.kpl.co.ke
https://www.rsssf.org
