The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) are proposing significant reforms to the Kenyan football pyramid to enhance competition and restructure league formats.
The local governing body suggested a transition back to a 16-team Kenyan Premier League (KPL), potentially effective from the 2026–2027 season.
The current 18-team format will be retained for the next season, with four teams moving down to accommodate the proposed structure.
"The top-tier league shall be referred to as the Kenyan Premier League. For the upcoming 2025/2026 season, the league shall still comprise 18 Teams.
At the end of the season, four teams will automatically be relegated to the National Super League," FKF said in a statement.
"For subsequent seasons, the Kenyan Premier League shall comprise 16 teams. At the end of the Season, three (3) teams will automatically be relegated to the second tier," the statement read.
The second division will be rebranded as the Kenyan Super League and will consist of 24 teams, divided into two zones, with plans to expand to 28 teams.
Automatic promotion to the Premier League will be awarded to the winners of each zone, alongside another playoff spot for the second and third-place teams.
"The FKF's second-tier league shall be referred to as the Kenyan Super League. For the 2025/2026 season, the league shall comprise 24 teams divided into two zones of 12 teams each. For subsequent seasons, the league shall comprise not more than 28 teams divided into two zones.
"The two (2) zonal champions will gain automatic promotion to the Premier League. The second and third-placed teams from each zone will face each other in a home and away play-off format to determine the third team to be promoted to the Kenyan Premier League.
Three (3) teams from each zone will be relegated to the third-tier league," FKF said. The third division will be renamed the FKF Conference League, with new regional zones added, encouraging more localised competition.
"The FKF's third-tier league shall be referred to as the FKF Conference League. The League shall be divided into four zones, namely: Eastern Conference, Western Conference, Southern Conference and Northern Conference," FKF said.
"Beginning the 2025/2026 season, the league shall comprise a standard 64 teams divided into four (4) zones. At the end of the season, the four (4) zonal champions will gain automatic promotion to the Super League."
"The second-placed teams from each zone will face each other in a home and away play-off format to determine the additional two teams to be promoted to the second-tier league. Three teams from each zone will be relegated to the fourth-tier league," FKF said.
The fourth tier, the FKF regional league, will consist of multiple zones, accommodating up to 48 teams, with promotions leading to the Conference League.
The fifth-tier FKF County League aims to include 64 teams from the 48 recognised counties, structured in zones and also featuring promotion playoffs.
The sixth-tier FKF Sub-County League will serve as the base level of competitive football, supporting local talent through structured competitions leading to the County League. Each tier will implement promotions and demotions, creating a more robust and competitive football ecosystem in Kenya.
The reforms are set to reshape the entire football hierarchy and improve the overall quality and engagement in Kenyan football.
