Kariobangi Sharks and Mombasa United have agreed to settle their promotion-relegation dispute through a two-legged playoff following mediation talks with the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
The playoff will be played on October 1 and October 6, with the opening leg set to take place in Mombasa before the return fixture in Nairobi.
A key outcome of the agreement is that both clubs will be allowed to field their newly registered players, removing one of the major obstacles that had delayed the organisation of the playoff.
The agreement was reached after FKF brought the two clubs together for talks aimed at resolving the dispute and clearing the way for the delayed start of the 2026/27 FKF Premier League season.
Mombasa United said it had agreed to the playoff in the wider interest of football, its players, supporters and the people of Mombasa.
The club, however, maintained that accepting the playoff did not amount to surrendering its position or admitting that it had been wrong.
“However, in the wider interest of football, our players, our supporters and the people of Mombasa, we have made the difficult decision to accept the playoff. This decision is not a surrender, nor is it an admission that our position was wrong. It is a sacrifice made to end an impasse that has kept football away from where it truly belongs,” the club said.
Sharks finished 16th in the 2025/26 FKF Premier League, while Mombasa United finished third in the National Super League (NSL).
A disagreement over the promotion and relegation framework led to legal proceedings and contributed to the postponement of the 2026/27 Premier League season.
FKF had previously initiated dialogue with the two clubs in an effort to find an internal resolution.
Federation president Hussein Mohammed had said the governing body was exploring options, including a playoff or another process acceptable to both sides.
The latest mediation meeting has now paved the way for the playoff, with the two clubs set to battle for their place in the top-flight league.
