FKF introduces new foreign-player and medical rules for 2026/27 FKF Premier League
By Joel Masibo, September 16, 2026Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and Kenyan Premier League clubs have reached an agreement on several regulatory issues ahead of the 2026/27 campaign, including changes to the number of foreign players clubs can register and match-day medical requirements.
The most notable change is the introduction of a seven-player foreign quota, with clubs now allowed to register up to seven foreign players for the season.
However, the increased squad allowance comes with a restriction on match-day participation. Only five foreign players will be eligible to feature in any one league match, meaning a club could have seven foreign players on its books but must select a maximum of five for each fixture.
The arrangement gives clubs greater room to recruit from outside Kenya while maintaining a limit on the number of foreign players who can take part in an individual match.
The new provision also marks a shift from previous regulations. FKF’s top-flight foreign-player limit has previously been set at five players in certain seasons, making the new seven-player registration ceiling a significant adjustment.
Another key requirement agreed upon by the clubs concerns medical preparedness at league matches.
Under the new arrangement, every SportPesa League fixture must have two ambulances in attendance as part of the match-day medical setup. The requirement is intended to ensure that emergency medical response is available during matches.
The clubs also formally consented to the implementation of the foreign-player quota and ambulance provision, alongside other matters that had already been complied with during the previous campaign.
The agreement was reached during a meeting between FKF officials and representatives of FKF Premier League clubs on Wednesday, September 16, 2026, with the parties reviewing outstanding issues ahead of the new campaign.
The changes come as Kenyan top-flight football continues to deal with questions around competition regulations, club preparedness and the enforcement of league requirements. FKF has said the agreement allows preparations for the new season to proceed under the agreed framework.
The focus will now shift to how clubs utilise the expanded foreign-player registration allowance and how FKF enforces the five-player match-day limit once competitive action gets underway on Saturday, September 19, 2026 across different venues nationwide.