KPL mission and history Kenyan Premier League Ltd (KPL)

The Kenyan Premier League Ltd (KPL) is a private company incorporated in October 2003 under the Companies Act of Kenya. The KPL is fully owned and managed by the eighteen Premier League clubs. The KPL is affiliated to the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), which is also a KPL Special shareholder and voting member of the KPL Board of Directors.

KPL mission statement

Our mission is to build professionalism on and off the field in the Kenyan Premier League and its participating clubs, coaches, players and referees and ensure we always act together for the good of our sport and nation

KPL motto: For the good of our sport and nation

KPL goals

Key KPL goals include:

(a) to raise the professional standards and performance of our clubs, coaches, players and referees;

(b) to improve the competitiveness and attractiveness of our league for fans, sponsors and media;

(c) to secure and use sponsorships and other revenue to strengthen the future of our league and our clubs;

(d) to provide a professional and competitive basis for our clubs and our national teams to represent our country in international competitions;

(e) to undertake new programmes within and among our clubs for contributing to community and national development and achieving greater national unity;

(f) to contribute to the improvement of football in our country and abroad through cooperation with other clubs and associations in and outside Kenya and with CECAFA, CAF and FIFA.

KPL core values

Key KPL values include:

Democratic ownership: In KPL our clubs all have equal shares

Democratic decision-making: In KPL our clubs all have equal votes

Fairplay: In KPL our clubs are all equal under the rules

Leadership on merit: In KPL our Chairman is the Chairman of the highest ranked club in the previous Premier League season and our Vice Chairmen are the Chairmen of the next two highest ranked clubs.

Good governance: In KPL our main policy and decision-making body is the Governing Council which meets quarterly and consists of the Chairmen of each of the 18 Premier League clubs plus FKF.

Transparency: In KPL our Governing Council meetings and records of decisions are open to the media

Financial accountability: In KPL all our members, sponsors and the media can review our financial records and accounts at any time

National development: In KPL our clubs are committed to contributing to local and national development through special projects on key issues such as AIDS prevention, environmental improvement and alcohol/drug abuse

National unity: In KPL our members are from all parts of the country and maintain a zero tolerance policy against tribalism, racism, corruption and hooliganism or discrimination based on religion, gender or disability

KPL Clubs Charter

Our clubs are committed to managing our clubs in a professional and honest manner and with respect for the rules as well as the principles of good governance, financial accountability, public transparency and fairplay on and off the field. We undertake to ensure that our clubs:

1. Play to win, play fair and accept both victory and defeat with dignity;

2. Respect the KPL and other club officials, the match officials and spectators;

3. Reject corruption, hooliganism, banned substances, racism and discrimination of any kind;

4. Behave with the utmost good faith and honesty in all relations with the KPL and other clubs;

5. Act always in a manner that does not bring the KPL or the game into disrepute;

6. Comply with the Laws of the Game and KPL, FKF, CECAFA, CAF and FIFA policies and rules;

7. Inform our officials and players on the relevant policies and rules and ensure they respect them;

8. Respect the contractual responsibilities and obligations of the employees of another club;

9. Discharge our financial obligations to the KPL and other clubs promptly and fully;

10. Seek to resolve any differences with the KPL or other clubs without recourse to a court of law.

KPL cooperation with the Football Kenya Limited (FKF)

The KPL and the Premier League clubs are members of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF)  and pay a consolidated annual affiliation fee agreed by the FKL-KPL Joint Executive Committee (JEC) which consists of three members appointed by the FKF and three members appointed by the KPL and is chaired by a FKF representative or the KPL representative on alternate basis. Among other responsibilities, the FKF-KPL Joint Executive Committee helps coordinate the annual calendar of events and fixtures and considers changes in the Rules of Governing Kenyan Football as well as joint projects of mutual interest and benefit for both parties and Kenyan football such as training courses for top coaches, match commissioners, referees and youth development. It also approves annually the selection of top referees for the Premier League for appointment to matches.

The FKF National Executive Committee includes one KPL representatives: The KPL representative is appointed by the KPL Governing Council. The FKF Annual and Special General Meetings include the Chairmen of the eighteen Premier League clubs as voting members.

KPL history highlights

Incorporation 2003

The Kenyan Premier League Limited (KPL) is a private company limited by shares. The company was incorporated on October 31, 2003 under Chapter 486 of the Companies Act of the Laws of Kenya.

Kenyan Champions League 2003

KPL launched and successfully managed the Kenyan Champions League which became one of the most highly competitive and fairplay leagues in Kenyan football history. It was also the best managed with no matches failing to kickoff, no abandoned matches, no incidents of hooliganism, no referee boycotts, no two-match weekends for any club, no serious injuries to any players, no appeals against the referees or results of any matches and no disciplinary action needed against any club officials or players. Also, no team dominated the other teams as the goal difference was two goals or less for all but two matches. The 2003-04 champions were Utalii FC with Tusker FC as the runner-up.

First Transparency Cup 2003

In November/December 2003 KPL launched the world’s first Transparency Cup with the theme of “Kicking corruption out of football”. The Cup champions were Utalii FC with Gor Mahia FC as the runners-up. The awards for the top clubs, players and referees were the highest for any Cup competition in the 40-year history of Kenyan football.

Second Transparency Cup 2004

In March/July 2004 KPL successfully organized the second Transparency Cup. The Cup champions were Kenya Commercial Bank FC with Thika United FC as the runner-up.

KPL Football Role of Honour 2004

KPL created the first Football Roll of Honour to recognize those who selflessly dedicated themselves to improving Kenyan football and named the following first eleven members who have free lifetime entry to all KPL matches: Mohamed Abbas, Ahmed Breik, Peter Dawo, Kadir Farah, Joe Kadenge, Joe Masiga, Josephat Murila, John Nyawanga, Bob Ogolla, Nahashon Oluoch and Allan Thigo.

Kenyan Premier League 2005/06

With the agreement of the then KFF, CAF and FIFA, KPL took over the ownership and management of the Premier League which was again highly competitive. Over two-thirds of the matches played were vic-tories and 90% of the matches were only 1 or 2 goal victories or draws. The 2005/06 Premier League champions were

New KPL office, staff and outreach 2005

In 2005 KPL established a new headquarters and office in Riadha House in central Nairobi and appointed a Managing Director and assistant. KPL also had an office co-located with the FKL at the FIFA GOAL Project headquarters at Kasarani Stadium.

Stopping hooliganism 2006

After several serious incidents in February 2006, KPL adopted a new ‘zero tolerance’ policy against hooliganism and attacks on referees. In over 400 KPL matches since then, there have been only three attacks on referees which were all firmly dealt with under the KPL policy. The last time a referee was assaulted was in July 2007.

KPL support to national teams 2003-07

During 2003-07 the KPL clubs provided the majority of national team players and voluntarily released their players for far longer periods than required in the FIFA rules.

Cairo Agreements 2006

The KPL would likely not have survived without the insistence and persistence of FIFA on protecting the principles and integrity of our sport. The watershed event for saving and improving Kenyan football was the meeting convened by FIFA in Cairo, Eqypt in January 2006. The meetings in Cairo involved the Presidents and senior officials of FIFA and CAF; the Minister, Assistant Minister and senior officials of the Kenyan Ministry of Sports; the Chairman and two senior officials of FKL; and three KPL club representatives.