Mathare United CEO Jectone Obure gives update on league handover from FKF
By Luke Oluoch, July 27, 2026Mathare United CEO Jectone Obure has provided an update on the likelihood of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) ceding the running and management of Kenya’s top-flight league to a semi-autonomous entity.
Speaking in an interview with local media on Monday, July 27, 2026, Obure revealed that progress is being made following a meeting on Friday, July 24, where the FKF and FKF Premier League clubs agreed to establish a seven-member transition committee.
The operational mandate of Kenya Premier League (KPL) Limited expired in September 2020 after the previous FKF administration declined to extend its contract, returning the league’s day-to-day management to the federation.
While advocating for an independently run league, Obure highlighted FKF President Hussein Mohammed’s willingness to hand over management to a private body.
“We met with the president mid-last season about this. He was open to the idea and admitted that running the league is a major headache for the federation. Heading into the 2026/27 season, we are hopeful,” Obure said.
Obure pointed to the successes of the former KPL era, noting that financial stability and credibility attracted major corporate backing.
“During the KPL era, our FIFA ranking soared as high as position 58, and a lot of positive development was happening. Professionalism and transparency naturally follow when you separate the FA from the daily running of the league. Corporates poured in sponsorship money, and every season generated immense media hype,” he added.
However, he cautioned that any transition must respect existing commercial agreements and ongoing contracts signed under the current administration to avoid unnecessary court cases.
“We need to handle this the right way. Transition is a process and will take time. There are active sponsorship deals and contractual clauses that must be addressed with all stakeholders involved,” he stressed.
No threats of boycotts
Obure also dismissed rumours that top-flight clubs were planning to boycott the upcoming season if management changes were not immediately enforced.
“As clubs, we agreed unanimously to let the league proceed. Nobody is threatening a boycott. Our goal is to keep the games going while the transition committee monitors and guides the shift toward a more independent structure,” he clarified.
His remarks follow reiterations from FKF President Hussein Mohammed regarding his commitment to elevating the Kenyan league to one of the best in Africa. In line with these efforts, Mohammed recently met with the newly formed transition committee, which is chaired by Gor Mahia chairman Ambrose Rachier.
The FKF supremo stressed that what is best for the league should take precedence.