Top-flight Kenyan football is set to resume following a three-week hiatus after a high court threw out an attempt by the national federation to block games.
The national governing body, Football Kenya Federation (FKF), and league organisers, Kenyan Premier League (KPL), have been at loggerheads for months over who should run the league. This dispute led to the setting up of two competing tournaments and the suspension of all games.
On Monday, the high court dismissed the federation's attempts to seek an injunction to prevent KPL from organising games on procedural grounds.
According to Judge Roselyne Aburili,
An incorporated or registered society like the Football Kenya Federation cannot sue or be sued in its own name unless the officials institute legal proceedings on behalf of the organisation.
The national federation had gone to court three weeks prior to block KPL from running the league, resulting in the suspension of play.
KPL Chief Executive Jack Oguda stated,
We will definitely have league matches over the weekend. Right now, we are trying to see if we can arrange for mid-week fixtures and will make an announcement shortly.
Despite the ruling, the crisis that has seen the creation of two competing leagues in Kenya remains unresolved. KPL, which has run the 16-team national championship since 2003, has the support of the country's top football clubs. In contrast, FKF, established in 2011 and recognised by FIFA, has set up its own 18-team league, including 13 lower-ranking clubs promoted to fill the available slots.
Judge Aburili advised the two parties to seek an out-of-court solution to the matter during her ruling on Monday.
