Mombasa United promoted to Kenyan top flight after FKF awards 2-0 win over Sharks

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Leagues and Competitions Committee has awarded Mombasa United a 2-0 victory over Kariobangi Sharks in their abandoned promotion play-off second leg, promoting Mombasa United to the top flight for the 2026/27 season. The decision was made public on Friday 9 October 2026.

The second leg was played at the Ulinzi Sports Complex on Tuesday 6 October. Citizen Digital reported on 9 October that it was stopped in the 64th minute with Sharks leading 2-1 and the tie level at 3-3 on aggregate, after a penalty was awarded to Mombasa United and fans invaded the pitch. Mombasa United had won the first leg 2-1 at Mbaraki Sports Club, Capital FM reported on 9 October.

According to Capital FM, the committee, chaired by Peter Kamau Chege, found Sharks responsible for the abandonment because their players confronted the referee. It also found that a Sharks kit manager, together with a section of Sharks fans, invaded the pitch and physically assaulted the referee. Pulse Sports on 10 October and Mozzart Sport on 9 October named the referee as John Sulwe.

The committee cited Articles 3.3.2 and 3.3.3 of the Rules and Regulations Governing Kenyan Football (2019). On 10 October Pulse Sports quoted the ruling as saying "the match shall be forfeited by Kariobangi Sharks FC and the same shall be awarded to Mombasa United FC on a 2-0 score", and that Mombasa United are "hereby promoted to the SportPesa League 2026/2027 Season". Eastleigh Voice reported on 9 October that the committee heard oral submissions from both clubs before reaching a unanimous decision.

The committee referred the violence and misconduct to the FKF Disciplinary Committee for prosecution and sanctions, Capital FM reported. Eastleigh Voice said that process is still pending, and that the incident was reported at Lang'ata Police Station under OB No. 56/6/10/2026.

Mozzart Sport reported on 9 October that the ruling sends Sharks back to the National Super League, ending a decade in the top tier that began with their promotion in 2016.

The play-off followed a dispute over the promotion and relegation rules. The Standard reported on 10 October that FKF's 2025 revision introduced three automatic relegation places and three direct promotion slots, which removed the play-off. Sharks argued that the 2019 regulations under which the league began should apply, the paper said, while Mombasa United believed their third-place finish in the second tier had earned automatic promotion under the new rules. The dispute went to the Sports Disputes Tribunal and the High Court before mediation led to the play-off, The Standard reported.

Pulse Sports reported on 10 October that Mombasa United are scheduled to make their top-flight debut on Tuesday 13 October, at home to Kakamega Homeboyz at Mbaraki Sports Club.