# Kenyan football league system

The Kenyan football league system is a series of several interconnected leagues for association football clubs in Kenya.

## Structure

As of 2017, the top tier league in Kenya is the FKF Premier League, with the FKF National Super League below it. The FKF National Division One and National Division Two are the third and fourth tiers of the system respectively, both divided into two zones for the Eastern and Western halves of Kenya. Division Two is further divided into two groups consisting of teams from various regions in Eastern and Western Kenya.
Below the national leagues are the Regional Leagues, divided into regional divisions based on the former Provinces of Kenya (except for North Eastern), some of which are further divided into a number of zones. The County Champions League and the Sub-County Leagues make up the bottom two tiers of the Kenyan football league system.
In women's football, the Women's Premier League is the top tier league, with the Women's Division One below it.

## History

In November 2012, the Football Kenya Federation began talks to create Division Two, which, if approved, will go above the Provincial League as the third tier. The proposal says that the league will be made of 16 teams; the four relegated teams from both zones of Division One and one team from each of the eight provincial leagues. The 16 teams will be divided into two zones of eight teams each on the same basis as Division One in terms of locations of teams in the zones. The winners from each zone would be promoted to their respective zones in Division One, e.g. the winner from Zone A in Division Two would be promoted to Zone A in Division One.
On 25 April 2013, the Football Kenya Federation decided to slash the league to 20 teams for the 2014 season. For that to happen, it was decided that the league will consist of top 5 teams in each zone (except the two teams that win the promotion play-offs) in addition to the two relegated Premier League teams. The remaining 29 teams will be relegated to FKF Division Two, which will begin next season, along with the 8 teams promoted from the Provincial League.
On 10 July 2013, it was announced that the Football Kenya Federation introduced a new league system to take effect from the beginning of the 2014 season. For the 2015 season, the Kenyan Premier League was to be contested by 18 teams, up from 16 for the 2014 season.
At the beginning of the 2015 season, talks between the Kenyan Premier League and the Football Kenya Federation concerning the expansion of the top flight collapsed, ultimately resulting in the formation of a new parallel top division called the FKF Premier League (FKF PL) consisting of 18 teams, with the KPL maintaining its composition of 16 teams. However, on 23 March 2015, the two parties reached an agreement that gave the KPL official recognition as Kenya's top division and the FKF PL as Kenya's second division for 2015, with a memorandum of understanding outlining the promotion and relegation system between the two leagues for 2015 and the relationship between the KPL and the federation regarding the running of the top division from 2016 onwards.

## Current system

    As of the 2017 season.
| Level | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) | League/Division(s) |
| 1 Premier League | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs | Kenyan Premier League 18 clubs |
| 2 Super League | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs | Kenyan National Super League 20 clubs |
| 3 Division One | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone A 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs | Zone B 14 clubs |
| 4 Division Two | Western Zone 15 clubs | Western Zone 15 clubs | Western Zone 15 clubs | Western Zone 15 clubs | Western Zone 15 clubs | Western Zone 15 clubs | Western Zone 15 clubs | Western Zone 15 clubs | Western Zone 15 clubs | Western Zone 15 clubs | Western Zone 15 clubs | Western Zone 15 clubs | Western Zone 15 clubs | Western Zone 15 clubs | Western Zone 15 clubs | Western Zone 15 clubs | Central Zone 30 clubs | Central Zone 30 clubs | Central Zone 30 clubs | Central Zone 30 clubs | Central Zone 30 clubs | Central Zone 30 clubs | Central Zone 30 clubs | Central Zone 30 clubs | Central Zone 30 clubs | Central Zone 30 clubs | Central Zone 30 clubs | Central Zone 30 clubs | Central Zone 30 clubs | Central Zone 30 clubs | Central Zone 30 clubs | Central Zone 30 clubs | Eastern Zone 24 clubs | Eastern Zone 24 clubs | Eastern Zone 24 clubs | Eastern Zone 24 clubs | Eastern Zone 24 clubs | Eastern Zone 24 clubs | Eastern Zone 24 clubs | Eastern Zone 24 clubs | Eastern Zone 24 clubs | Eastern Zone 24 clubs | Eastern Zone 24 clubs | Eastern Zone 24 clubs | Eastern Zone 24 clubs | Eastern Zone 24 clubs | Eastern Zone 24 clubs | Eastern Zone 24 clubs | Northern Zone 15 clubs | Northern Zone 15 clubs | Northern Zone 15 clubs | Northern Zone 15 clubs | Northern Zone 15 clubs | Northern Zone 15 clubs | Northern Zone 15 clubs | Northern Zone 15 clubs | Northern Zone 15 clubs | Northern Zone 15 clubs | Northern Zone 15 clubs | Northern Zone 15 clubs | Northern Zone 15 clubs | Northern Zone 15 clubs | Northern Zone 15 clubs | Northern Zone 15 clubs |
| 5 Regional Leagues | Nyanza League 20 clubs | Nyanza League 20 clubs | Nyanza League 20 clubs | Nyanza League 20 clubs | Nyanza League 20 clubs | Nyanza League 20 clubs | Nyanza League 20 clubs | Nyanza League 20 clubs | Western League 20 clubs | Western League 20 clubs | Western League 20 clubs | Western League 20 clubs | Western League 20 clubs | Western League 20 clubs | Western League 20 clubs | Western League 20 clubs | Rift Valley League 20 clubs | Rift Valley League 20 clubs | Rift Valley League 20 clubs | Rift Valley League 20 clubs | Rift Valley League 20 clubs | Rift Valley League 20 clubs | Rift Valley League 20 clubs | Rift Valley League 20 clubs | Central League 20 clubs | Central League 20 clubs | Central League 20 clubs | Central League 20 clubs | Central League 20 clubs | Central League 20 clubs | Central League 20 clubs | Central League 20 clubs | Nairobi League 20 clubs | Nairobi League 20 clubs | Nairobi League 20 clubs | Nairobi League 20 clubs | Nairobi League 20 clubs | Nairobi League 20 clubs | Nairobi League 20 clubs | Nairobi League 20 clubs | Eastern League 20 clubs | Eastern League 20 clubs | Eastern League 20 clubs | Eastern League 20 clubs | Eastern League 20 clubs | Eastern League 20 clubs | Eastern League 20 clubs | Eastern League 20 clubs | North Eastern League 20 clubs | North Eastern League 20 clubs | North Eastern League 20 clubs | North Eastern League 20 clubs | North Eastern League 20 clubs | North Eastern League 20 clubs | North Eastern League 20 clubs | North Eastern League 20 clubs | Coast League 20 clubs | Coast League 20 clubs | Coast League 20 clubs | Coast League 20 clubs | Coast League 20 clubs | Coast League 20 clubs | Coast League 20 clubs | Coast League 20 clubs |
| 6 County Champions League | Baringo League | Baringo League | Baringo League | Baringo League | Baringo League | Baringo League | Baringo League | Baringo League | Bomet League | Bomet League | Bomet League | Bomet League | Bomet League | Bomet League | Bomet League | Bomet League | Bungoma League | Bungoma League | Bungoma League | Bungoma League | Bungoma League | Bungoma League | Bungoma League | Bungoma League | Busia League | Busia League | Busia League | Busia League | Busia League | Busia League | Busia League | Busia League | Embu League | Embu League | Embu League | Embu League | Embu League | Embu League | Embu League | Embu League | Garissa League | Garissa League | Garissa League | Garissa League | Garissa League | Garissa League | Garissa League | Garissa League | Isiolo League | Isiolo League | Isiolo League | Isiolo League | Isiolo League | Isiolo League | Isiolo League | Isiolo League | Kiambu League | Kiambu League | Kiambu League | Kiambu League | Kiambu League | Kiambu League | Kiambu League | Kiambu League |
| 6 County Champions League | Elgeyo-Marakwet League | Elgeyo-Marakwet League | Elgeyo-Marakwet League | Elgeyo-Marakwet League | Elgeyo-Marakwet League | Elgeyo-Marakwet League | Elgeyo-Marakwet League | Elgeyo-Marakwet League | Homa Bay League | Homa Bay League | Homa Bay League | Homa Bay League | Homa Bay League | Homa Bay League | Homa Bay League | Homa Bay League | Kajiado League | Kajiado League | Kajiado League | Kajiado League | Kajiado League | Kajiado League | Kajiado League | Kajiado League | Kakamega League | Kakamega League | Kakamega League | Kakamega League | Kakamega League | Kakamega League | Kakamega League | Kakamega League | Kilifi League | Kilifi League | Kilifi League | Kilifi League | Kilifi League | Kilifi League | Kilifi League | Kilifi League | Kirinyaga League | Kirinyaga League | Kirinyaga League | Kirinyaga League | Kirinyaga League | Kirinyaga League | Kirinyaga League | Kirinyaga League | Kitui League | Kitui League | Kitui League | Kitui League | Kitui League | Kitui League | Kitui League | Kitui League | Kwale League | Kwale League | Kwale League | Kwale League | Kwale League | Kwale League | Kwale League | Kwale League |
| 6 County Champions League | Kericho League | Kericho League | Kericho League | Kericho League | Kericho League | Kericho League | Kericho League | Kericho League | Kisii League | Kisii League | Kisii League | Kisii League | Kisii League | Kisii League | Kisii League | Kisii League | Kisumu League | Kisumu League | Kisumu League | Kisumu League | Kisumu League | Kisumu League | Kisumu League | Kisumu League | Laikipia League | Laikipia League | Laikipia League | Laikipia League | Laikipia League | Laikipia League | Laikipia League | Laikipia League | Lamu League | Lamu League | Lamu League | Lamu League | Lamu League | Lamu League | Lamu League | Lamu League | Machakos League | Machakos League | Machakos League | Machakos League | Machakos League | Machakos League | Machakos League | Machakos League | Makueni League | Makueni League | Makueni League | Makueni League | Makueni League | Makueni League | Makueni League | Makueni League | Mandera League | Mandera League | Mandera League | Mandera League | Mandera League | Mandera League | Mandera League | Mandera League |
| 6 County Champions League | Migori League | Migori League | Migori League | Migori League | Migori League | Migori League | Migori League | Migori League | Nakuru League | Nakuru League | Nakuru League | Nakuru League | Nakuru League | Nakuru League | Nakuru League | Nakuru League | Nandi League | Nandi League | Nandi League | Nandi League | Nandi League | Nandi League | Nandi League | Nandi League | Narok League | Narok League | Narok League | Narok League | Narok League | Narok League | Narok League | Narok League | Marsabit League | Marsabit League | Marsabit League | Marsabit League | Marsabit League | Marsabit League | Marsabit League | Marsabit League | Meru League | Meru League | Meru League | Meru League | Meru League | Meru League | Meru League | Meru League | Mombasa League | Mombasa League | Mombasa League | Mombasa League | Mombasa League | Mombasa League | Mombasa League | Mombasa League | Murang'a League | Murang'a League | Murang'a League | Murang'a League | Murang'a League | Murang'a League | Murang'a League | Murang'a League |
| 6 County Champions League | Nyamira League | Nyamira League | Nyamira League | Nyamira League | Nyamira League | Nyamira League | Nyamira League | Nyamira League | Samburu League | Samburu League | Samburu League | Samburu League | Samburu League | Samburu League | Samburu League | Samburu League | Siaya League | Siaya League | Siaya League | Siaya League | Siaya League | Siaya League | Siaya League | Siaya League | Trans-Nzoia League | Trans-Nzoia League | Trans-Nzoia League | Trans-Nzoia League | Trans-Nzoia League | Trans-Nzoia League | Trans-Nzoia League | Trans-Nzoia League | Nairobi A. League | Nairobi A. League | Nairobi A. League | Nairobi A. League | Nairobi A. League | Nairobi A. League | Nairobi A. League | Nairobi A. League | Nairobi B. League | Nairobi B. League | Nairobi B. League | Nairobi B. League | Nairobi B. League | Nairobi B. League | Nairobi B. League | Nairobi B. League | Nyandarua League | Nyandarua League | Nyandarua League | Nyandarua League | Nyandarua League | Nyandarua League | Nyandarua League | Nyandarua League | Nyeri League | Nyeri League | Nyeri League | Nyeri League | Nyeri League | Nyeri League | Nyeri League | Nyeri League |
| 6 County Champions League | Turkana League | Turkana League | Turkana League | Turkana League | Turkana League | Turkana League | Turkana League | Turkana League | Uasin Gishu League | Uasin Gishu League | Uasin Gishu League | Uasin Gishu League | Uasin Gishu League | Uasin Gishu League | Uasin Gishu League | Uasin Gishu League | Vihiga League | Vihiga League | Vihiga League | Vihiga League | Vihiga League | Vihiga League | Vihiga League | Vihiga League | West Pokot League | West Pokot League | West Pokot League | West Pokot League | West Pokot League | West Pokot League | West Pokot League | West Pokot League | Taita-Taveta League | Taita-Taveta League | Taita-Taveta League | Taita-Taveta League | Taita-Taveta League | Taita-Taveta League | Taita-Taveta League | Taita-Taveta League | Tana River League | Tana River League | Tana River League | Tana River League | Tana River League | Tana River League | Tana River League | Tana River League | Tharaka-Nithi League | Tharaka-Nithi League | Tharaka-Nithi League | Tharaka-Nithi League | Tharaka-Nithi League | Tharaka-Nithi League | Tharaka-Nithi League | Tharaka-Nithi League | Wajir League | Wajir League | Wajir League | Wajir League | Wajir League | Wajir League | Wajir League | Wajir League |
| 7 Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues | Sub-County Leagues |