Mariga sounds alarm over Kenyan football as new season remains in limbo

Former Harambee Stars captain and Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Vice President McDonald Mariga has called for an end to the disputes surrounding Kenyan football, urging stakeholders to respect the Constitution and court decisions as they seek to resolve the uncertainty affecting the 2026/27 league season.

Mariga made the appeal in a statement issued on Monday, August 31, 2026, expressing concern over the continued uncertainty surrounding the resumption of domestic competitions.

The former footballer said the situation was particularly worrying at a time when Kenya, alongside its East African partners, is preparing to host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), arguing that the country cannot afford to have its domestic football distracted by institutional disagreements.

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He said football should be a unifying force built around competition, passion and opportunity, rather than a source of persistent divisions over governance, regulations and institutional authority.

Mariga’s intervention comes as stakeholders continue to grapple with questions surrounding the administration of Kenyan football and the delayed start of the new league campaign, with clubs, players and other participants waiting for clarity on the way forward.

Mariga urges stakeholders to respect Constitution and court decisions

In his statement, Mariga pointed to recent court directions concerning the application of the FKF 2019 Rules and Regulations in the commencement of the 2026/27 season.

He said the court directions had provided important clarity on the matter, including the requirement for a mandatory play-off under the regulations.

Rather than allowing the disagreements to deepen, Mariga urged all parties to use the development as an opportunity to step back, respect the decisions of the courts and pursue an orderly and lawful resolution.

“The issue before us should not be about who wins and who loses. Kenyan football must win,” Mariga said.

He specifically appealed to the FKF leadership, National Executive Committee (NEC), clubs, leagues, players, officials and other football institutions to embrace dialogue and consultation while ensuring that their actions remain within the framework of the FKF Constitution and applicable regulations.

Mariga argued that disagreements are inevitable in any institution but should be handled through established mechanisms instead of automatically becoming prolonged disputes and court battles.

“Where disagreements exist, let us use the mechanisms provided by our Constitution,” he said, adding that stakeholders should consult the appropriate organs whenever interpretation of the rules is required.

He warned against creating avoidable disputes where dialogue and proper institutional processes could provide solutions.

The FKF vice president further stressed that the Constitution should remain the common foundation for all stakeholders, insisting that no individual, office, faction or interest should place itself above it.

He also called for respect for the legitimate constitutional mandates of FKF organs and decisions made by the courts.

Delayed season raises concerns ahead of AFCON 2027

The uncertainty surrounding the start of the 2026/27 season has implications beyond the competition itself, particularly for clubs that have already invested resources in preparing for the new campaign.

Mariga said clubs deserve certainty about the competition calendar, rules and structures, while players need regular competitive football to maintain their development and performance levels.

Sponsors and other commercial partners also require a stable football environment in which competitions can be organised predictably.

“The league should not merely kick off; it must kick off on a clear, lawful and administratively sound footing,” Mariga said.

His comments come as preparations for AFCON 2027 continue to gather momentum, with Kenya expected to share hosting responsibilities for the continental tournament with Uganda and Tanzania.

Mariga believes the tournament should provide an additional reason for Kenyan football stakeholders to resolve their differences rather than allow internal disagreements to dominate the sport.

“As we prepare to welcome Africa to Kenya for AFCON 2027, this is the time to demonstrate that Kenyan football can resolve its differences maturely and put the interests of the game above individual positions,” he said.

The former Harambee Stars captain also spoke about the wider importance of football to the country, particularly to young players who see the sport as a potential pathway to representing Kenya at the highest level.

Having spent much of his life in football, Mariga said he understood what the game means to players, clubs, coaches, supporters and millions of young Kenyans dreaming of becoming professional footballers.

He expressed sadness that the energy and excitement around the sport had been overshadowed by institutional disagreements and what he described as non-adherence to the FKF Constitution.

Clubs and players need certainty

For Mariga, restoring the domestic season is not simply about getting matches back on the calendar. He believes the competitions must operate under properly constituted and functional administrative and governance structures.

He said clubs make significant investments when preparing for a new season and therefore deserve certainty about how and when competitions will be played.

Players, meanwhile, need a functioning league to remain competitive, while supporters are waiting to return to stadiums and follow their clubs after the uncertainty surrounding the start of the campaign.

“The football season must return. Our clubs deserve to play. Our players deserve to compete. Our fans deserve football,” Mariga said.

He called for Kenyan football to have governance structures that are stable, predictable and credible, arguing that such an environment would help rebuild confidence across the sport.

The appeal also comes at a crucial stage for the country’s national teams. A strong and competitive domestic league provides an important platform for identifying and developing players who can eventually contribute to the Harambee Stars and other national sides.

Mariga’s statement therefore placed the responsibility for resolving the current impasse on all stakeholders rather than on one institution or individual.

He urged the different sides to put aside personal and institutional interests and focus on what he described as the bigger picture for Kenyan football.

The former international also cautioned against allowing disagreements to become entrenched, particularly where existing constitutional procedures can be used to resolve them.

He maintained that dialogue should be given priority before disputes escalate into litigation.

Mariga’s message ahead of new season

Mariga’s intervention ultimately centred on three principles: respect for the FKF Constitution, adherence to court decisions and dialogue among stakeholders.

His position is that these principles can provide a pathway towards resolving the current uncertainty while allowing the domestic game to resume on a firm legal and administrative foundation.

The timing of the appeal is significant, given the preparations for AFCON 2027 and the increased international attention Kenyan football is likely to attract in the build-up to the tournament.

A prolonged domestic football dispute could potentially affect preparations for the tournament by diverting attention away from player development, competition organisation and broader football development.

Mariga wants stakeholders to ensure that the country’s football administration does not become defined by divisions, court cases and disagreements.

Instead, he has called for an environment where clubs can plan, players can compete, fans can watch their teams and sponsors can invest with confidence.

His final message was a direct appeal for stakeholders to change how disagreements are handled.

“Let us talk before we litigate. Let us consult before we decide. Let us follow the Constitution before we create new disputes,” Mariga said.

The statement now puts the focus on whether Kenyan football stakeholders can translate that appeal into action and find common ground on the issues delaying the start of the 2026/27 season.

For a sport preparing to welcome the continent for AFCON 2027, Mariga believes the priority should be clear: resolve the disputes, restore stability and allow Kenyan football to get back to what happens on the pitch.