The Kenyan Premier League (KPL), officially known as the SportPesa League, is a professional league for men's football clubs in Kenya.^[1] Standing at the top of the Kenyan football league system, the league was formed in 1963 under the Kenya Football Federation but is now controlled by the Football Kenya Federation. It is contested by 18 clubs and operates on a promotion and relegation system with the Kenyan National Super League. Kenya Police are the current champions, having won the 2024–25 season.

The league was mostly stable until the late 1990s and since then its performance had been considered below average, with many of the league's clubs having little or no finances to support themselves. However, when^[when?] SuperSport became an official league partner, the league has taken on a more serious role with teams becoming professional and the majority of the clubs managing to get kit sponsorships. This saw the level of competition improve compared to past.

Following constant wrangles between the then football governing administration and the eventual deteriorating of the National Football League, participating clubs opted out and decided to form a company that would see the smooth running of the league in a professional and transparent manner. In 2003, the Kenyan Premier League was created and registered as a limited liability company whose ownership was shared amongst all the sixteen participating clubs and was to be affiliated to the Kenya Football Federation.

The league was known as the Kenya National Football League from its creation in 1963 to 1996, the Kenyan Super League in 1973 and 1997 and, from 1998, the Kenyan Premier League.

The Kenyan Premier League is operated and run as a private limited company incorporated in October 2003 under the Companies Act of Kenya. It is fully owned and managed by the 18 member clubs with each club being a shareholder. It is affiliated to Football Kenya Federation, which is also a shareholder and voting member of the KPL Board of directors. Non-voting members include the Kenya Football Coaches Association and the Kenya Football Referees Association.

The league's growth and increased fan engagement have historically attracted various corporate partners. While the league previously maintained a long-standing broadcasting relationship with SuperSport and equipment deals with Umbro and Puma, the sponsorship landscape has shifted significantly in recent years.

On 24 November 2020, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) signed a seven-year broadcasting deal with StarTimes worth US$1.1 million (KSh110 million) annually.^[2] This was followed on 31 August 2023 by a major broadcasting agreement with Azam TV. The seven-year deal, valued at US$9.1 million (KSh1.3 billion), established Azam as the official broadcast partner, with an initial payment of US$1 million and a 10% annual increment for subsequent seasons.

Most recently, on 17 September 2025, the FKF and SportPesa entered into a long-term partnership. This 10-year deal, valued at KSh1.12 billion (approx. US$8.6 million), returned the betting firm to the league's primary sponsorship slot.^[3]

The league has undergone several rebrands based on its title sponsorship agreements:

• Tusker Premier League (2012–2015): On 21 August 2012, East African Breweries signed a KSh170 million deal to rename the league after its Tusker brand.^[4]
• SportPesa Premier League (2015–2018): SportPesa first acquired naming rights in 2015 in a deal worth KSh450 million. This partnership introduced a new 12 kg brass trophy manufactured in Italy.^[5] The deal ended in 2018 when the company temporarily ceased Kenyan operations.^[6]
• BetKing Premier League (2020–2021): After a period without a title sponsor, the FKF announced a five-year, KES 1.2bn deal with BetKing Kenya in July 2020.^[7] However, this agreement was terminated in 2021.^[8]
• SportPesa League (2025–2035): In September 2025, SportPesa returned as the title sponsor in a 10-year agreement. Under this current deal, 60% of the funds are distributed directly to the 18 member clubs, while the remaining 40% supports the federation in managing the competition.^[9]

There are 18 clubs in the Kenyan Premier League.^[10] During the course of a season, traditionally from February to November but switched to August to May in 2018, each club plays the others twice (a double round-robin system): once at their home stadium and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 34 games. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned champion. If points are equal, the goal difference and then goals scored determine the winner. If still equal, the ordering is determined by their head-to-head records. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank. The two lowest placed teams are relegated to the National Super League, with its top two teams promoted in their place. The 16th placed team squares off with the third-best team from the National Super League for the third promotion slot.

In 2018 the league switched from a Feb/Nov calendar to an August to May competition to bring it in line with other countries.^[11] The 2018/2019 season bridges the gap running from December 2018 to July 2019 after which the seasons will align with those of European nations.

The league's most popular teams are rivals A.F.C. Leopards and Gor Mahia last title-winning season in 2024, while A.F.C. Leopards won their 12th league title in 1998.

Team	Location	Stadium	Capacity	Head coach
A.F.C. Leopards	Nairobi	Dandora Stadium	4,000	Fred Ambani
Bandari	Mombasa	Mombasa Municipal Stadium	10,000	Kennedy Odhiambo
Bidco United F.C.	Thika	Thika Municipal Stadium	20,000	Anthony Akhulia
Gor Mahia	Nairobi	Kenyatta Stadium	5,000	Sinisa Mihic
Kakamega Homeboyz	Kakamega	Bukhungu Stadium	5,000	Francis Baraza
Kariobangi Sharks	Nairobi	Kenyatta Stadium	5,000	William Muluya
Kenya Commercial Bank	Nairobi	SportPesa Arena	5,000	Patrick Odhiambo
Kenya Police	Nairobi	Police Sacco Stadium	3,000	Etienne Ndayiragije
Mara Sugar	Awendo	Awendo Green Stadium	5,000	Benedict Simiyu
Mathare United	Nairobi	Dandora Stadium	4,000	John Kamau
Murang'a Seal	Murang'a	SportPesa Arena	5,000	John Njogu
Nairobi City Stars	Nairobi	Kenyatta Stadium	5,000	Salim Babu
Posta Rangers	Nairobi	Kenyatta Stadium	5,000	Sammy Omollo
Shabana	Kisii	Gusii Stadium	12,000	Peter Okidi
Sofapaka	Nairobi	Kenyatta Stadium	5,000	Ezekiel Akwana
Talanta	Nairobi	Kenyatta Stadium	5,000	Jackline Juma
Tusker	Nairobi	Kenyatta Stadium	5,000	Charles Okere
Ulinzi Stars	Nakuru	Lang'ata Sports Complex	8,200	Danstun Nyaudo

Bandari

Bidco

Kakamega Homeboyz

Mara Sugar

Ulinzi

Murang'a Seal

Shabana

Nairobi

Nairobi teams:
A.F.C. Leopards
Gor Mahia
Kariobangi
KCB
Kenya Police
Mathare
City Stars
Posta
Sofapaka
Talanta
Tusker

Location of 2024-25 Kenyan Premier League teams

Source: RSSSF – Kenya – List of champions

The league record for most goals scored in one season is currently held by Maurice Ochieng, who completed the 1976 season with 26 goals for Gor Mahia.^[13] His former teammate, Joe Kadenge, praised him as a lethal striker in front of goal.^[12]

Year	Player	Club	Goals
1976	Maurice Ochieng	Gor Mahia	26
2006	Boniface Ambani	Tusker	21
2007	Kevin Ngugi	Coast Stars	15
2008	Francis Ouma	Mathare United	15
2009	John Baraza	Sofapaka	15
	Emeka Joseph	Tusker	15
2010	John Baraza	Sofapaka	15
2011	Stephen Waruru	Ulinzi Stars	12
2012	John Baraza	Sofapaka	18
2013	Jacob Keli	Kenya Commercial Bank	17
2014	Dan Sserunkuma	Gor Mahia	16
2015	Jesse Were	Tusker	22
2016	John Makwatta	Ulinzi Stars	18
2017	Masoud Juma	Kariobangi Sharks	17
2018	Erick Kapaito	Kariobangi Sharks	16
2018–19	Allan Wanga	Kakamega Homeboyz	17
	Umaru Kasumba	Sofapaka	17
	Enosh Ochieng	Ulinzi Stars	17
2019–20	Timothy Otieno	Tusker	14
2020–21	Erick Kapaito	Kariobangi Sharks	24
2021–22	Derrick Otanga	KCB	16
2022–23	Elvis Rupia	Kenya Police	27
2023–24	Benson Omala	Gor Mahia	19
2024–25	Moses Shumah	Kakamega Homeboyz	17

Most time topscorers

• 3 times
  • John Baraza (2009, 2010, 2012)

Most goals by a player in a single season

• 27 goals
  • Elvis Rupia (2022–23)

Rank	Country	Player	Hat-tricks
1		Elvis Rupia	5
2		Erick Kapaito	4
		John Makwatta
4		Benson Omala	3
		Jesse Were
6		Enoch Agwanda	1
		Boniface Akenga
		Elvis Barasa
		Ojok Deogracious
		Ibrahim Joshua
		Lawrence Juma
		Masoud Juma
		Patrick Kaddu
		Meddie Kagere
		Michael Karamor
		Sydney Lokale
		Boniface Muchiri
		Paul Mungal
		Keiphas Mutuu
		John Mwangi
		Enosh Ochieng
		Raymond Ochieng
		Bernard Odhiambo
		Vincent Ogolla
		George Ogutu
		Michael Olunga
		Felix Oluoch
		Justine Omwando
		Mwingi Shami Kibwama
		Erisa Ssekisambu
		Dan Sserunkuma
		Jacques Tuyisenge
		Victor Umune
		Philip Wanjala
		Stephen Waruru
		Brian Yakhama

Most hat-tricks in single season

• 10 hat-tricks (2022–23)

Most hat-tricks by a player in a single season;

• 3 hat-tricks
  • Jesse Were (2015)

• Kenyan Women's Premier League
• Kenyan football league system

• Kenyan Premier League – official website
• Kenyan Premier League at FIFA (archived)
• Kenya – List of Champions at the RSSSF
• FKFPL Livescores