The Kenyan Premier League (KPL), officially known as the SportPesa League, is a professional league for men's football clubs in Kenya. 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 2024âÂÂ25 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 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. 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.
The league has undergone several rebrands based on its title sponsorship agreements:
There are 18 clubs in the Kenyan Premier League. 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. 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.
<small>Source: RSSSF â Kenya â List of champions</small>
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. His former teammate, Joe Kadenge, praised him as a lethal striker in front of goal.