Football Kenya Federation boss Hussein Mohammed has called on Kenyans to support local leagues and end their obsession with European football.
The opening weekend of the local football season was upon us last weekend, with several matches played across the country as the 2025/26 season kicks off in earnest. As has been though, outside the usual community clubs who draw large crowds, the attendance figures for Premier League matches were low.
In comparison, there was lots of attention and movement around clubs and restaurants around the country to watch English Premier League matches. This writer was particularly drawn to the crowds that watched the Manchester United V Chelsea match on Saturday 20 September 2025.
He pressed that the work of growing the division was down to Kenyans only, stressing that the Kenyan Premier League (KPL), National Super League (NSL), Women’s Premier League, and upcoming youth leagues will only grow through deliberate efforts by Kenyans.
“We must build our own league. It is important and without it we have no hope of growth. The same passion we have for foreign football should be redirected to our clubs and players. That’s the only way to grow the game locally,” Hussein said at the Serena Hotel in Nairobi, where he met football stakeholders to welcome a new sponsorship deal by betting firm Mozzart Bet targeting three NSL clubs.
He lauded betting firm Sportpesa for standing up to support the Kenyan top flight league and urged other corporate sponsors to join in and add to the investment in the country's football, which is required for growth.
He further praised broadcast firm Azam TV for its continued support with Sportpesa League coverage, and the Ministry of Sports, which he said is working with over 50 private sector partners to push the local game forward.
“We recently histed CHAN and successfully. You saw the crowds. This is a turning point for Kenyan football. With the right support, our players from grassroots to national levels will be discovered, nurtured, and exposed to greater opportunities,” said the FKF President.
With larger than life crowds seen in attendance during the just ended CHAN tournament held in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, the hope is that there is more to celebrate locally, with bigger fan attendances in future.
