By Mark Baber
January 22 – The dispute between the Kenyan Premier League (KPL) and Football Kenya Federation (FKL) over the number of teams in Kenya’s top division and the relationship between the two bodies looks close to resolution with reports of a task force set up to take matters forward.
The parties have finally agreed that next season’s KPL will be expanded to 18 teams, from the current 16, pending agreement from sponsors and broadcasters. In exchange for the increase in the number of teams, which the KPL had resisted, a number of conditions need to be met including a revising of league fixtures to allow more match days and an agreement the league should kick off in mid-February.
The compromise was reached after a task force was set up including four members with FKF including vice chairman Robert Asembo and Michael Esakwa, and George Odhiambo and Jack Oguda from the KPL. Most of the recommendations of the task force were agreed to at Wednesday’s meeting, chaired by KPL boss Ambrose Rachier, with outstanding issues to be discussed further on January 28 with a memorandum of understanding between the two sides being drawn up in the next few days.
A statement from the FKF, signed by Ambrose Rachier and Sam said: “The FKF/KPL JEC meeting received the report from the technical taskforce appointed to look into factors and considerations in effecting the new 18 team league format in 2015.
“Consensus was reached on most of their recommendations, while some of the recommendations required more input and will be dealt with conclusively at the next JEC meeting on 28 January, 2015.”
A resolution of the dispute between the two bodies will be particularly welcome following remarks by Kenya’s sports minister Hassan Wario last week that he was ready to intervene to ensure the football (and athletics) bodies cleaned up their act.
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