The 2025/26 Kenya Premier League season kicks off this weekend with seven crucial opening fixtures spread across three days.

Football fans across Kenya are gearing up for an exciting campaign as traditional heavyweights, newly promoted sides, and title contenders take to the pitch for the first time this season.

The new SprotPesa League season is expected to have many significant changes after a historic run for the Kenyan national football team, Harambee Stars.

Kenya Police FC’s first SportPesa League match vs Mara Sugar has been postponed due to Police FC’s participation in CAF Champions League qualifiers.

The FKF confirmed that the Kakamega Homeboyz vs Nairobi United clash was postponed due to logistical challenges, with a new date to be announced later.

The season opener is set for Friday, 19 September 2025, when Tusker FC face KCB FC at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, in what promises to be a thrilling clash from 6pm.

The brewers finished third last season with 57 points, just eight behind champions Kenya Police, while KCB finished 9th with 42 points.

The fixture brings added curiosity after last season’s tightly contested encounters between the two sides.

The most striking result was KCB defeating Tusker 3-2 on 26 October 2024, while the second leg ended in a thrilling 0-0 draw on 2 February 2025.

Among the most notable exits is Ryan Wesley Ogam, one of last season’s top scorers, who completed a move to Austria, but Tusker have filled the gap by signing Erick Kapaito.

Tusker’s head coach Charles Okere emphasized the importance of gelling these new signings quickly, particularly after losing a clinical finisher like Ogam.

“It has not been easy; scouting, training, and building tactical understanding, but we’ve made good progress. We gave the new players more minutes in friendlies so they could adapt to the pressure and learn how we play.”

AFC Leopards welcome Sofapaka to the Ulinzi Complex from 4:00 pm, an encounter filled with rivalry and tradition.

Matches between these two sides are often tight, with narrow scorelines and intense physical battles, making this clash one of the weekend’s most unpredictable fixtures.

AFC has signed a bunch of youthful talents and the return of several veterans, including Erick Mukangula, Kaycie Odhiambo, and the legendary Clifton Miheso.

Sofapaka, on the other hand, will rely on their defensive organisation and counterattacking strength, hoping to frustrate their hosts and steal maximum points.

Both teams had a poor season in the concluded KPL edition, AFC finishing 6th with 51 points and Sofapaka finishing 7th with 46 points.

Kariobangi Sharks will open their 2025/26 FKF Premier League campaign at the Kasarani Stadium against Bandari FC in another epic clash.

Sharks are coming off a mixed pre-season in which they focused on rebuilding their midfield and sharpening their attack after an inconsistent 2024/25 campaign that saw them finish 11th  with 40 points.

Historically, Sharks have struggled against Bandari, winning only four of their last fifteen meetings, with Bandari taking eight victories and three draws.

A narrow contest is expected, with Bandari’s consistency giving them a slight edge, though a fully fit Sharks midfield could tilt the balance toward a stalemate.

Gor Mahia host Bidco United at the Moi International Sports Centre (Kasarani) on Sunday, 21 September 2025, from 4 pm.

Gor Mahia finished the 2024/25 season second in the FKF Premier League with 59 points, while Bidco United struggled in 2024/25, completing the campaign with 35 points just outside the relegation zone.

Seven Gor players were called up for national duty in early 2025 for matches against Gambia and Gabon, including Austin Odhiambo, Lawrence Juma, Ben Stanley Omondi, Ronney Onyango, Alpha Onyango, Sylvester Owino, and Alphonse Omija.

Gor Mahia have undergone significant technical restructuring ahead of the 2025/26 season, appointing Ghanaian Charles Akonnor as head coach and a whole new technical bench.

Gor Mahia holds the edge overall, but several previous draws underlie the expectation of a close game that will likely be decided by moments of individual finishing.

Murang’a Seal welcome Ulinzi Stars to the SportPesa Arena on Sunday, 21 September 2025, in a very unpredictable fixture of teams that finished last season with only a point between them in the league.

Murang’a arrived having narrowly avoided relegation in 2024/25 and overhauled its squad by releasing 16 players and a new technical bench over the close season.

Ulinzi Stars arrive as a disciplined, connected team that retained all players who featured in Benni McCarthy’s domestic squads and CHAN preparations, notably Boniface Muchiri, Yakeen Muteheli, and Staphod Odhiambo.

A narrow home advantage and the momentum of a squad fighting to justify a whole changed squad makes it a tightly contested match.

21st September: Shabana vs APS Bomet – Gusii Stadium (2 pm)

22nd September: Mathare Utd vs Posta Rangers – Kasarani Annex (4 pm)

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