Kenyan players participating in the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Premier League, now officially named the SportPesa League, have everything to fight for after the prize money for league champions was significantly increased.
A total of 20 million Kenyan shillings has been set aside for the top three teams, with the league champions walking away with the lion’s share of 15 million.
This development marks a fresh chapter for football in Kenya, following the announcement of a landmark 10-year partnership between online gaming firm SportPesa and the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
The transformative sponsorship deal, valued at KSh 1.12 billion, grants SportPesa exclusive naming rights for Kenya’s premier league starting from the 2025/26 season.
The partnership also signals the brand’s return to the local scene, having previously sponsored the league between July 2015 and November 2019, a period widely considered a golden era for Kenyan football.
On Tuesday, September 16, SportPesa CEO Ronald Karauri and FKF President Hussein Mohammed officially unveiled the league’s new name and logo, signaling the beginning of an ambitious new journey.
Speaking at the launch, Karauri emphasized the firm’s dedication to rewarding excellence in the SportPesa League.
He confirmed that the original prize pool of KSh 6 million has now been increased to KSh 10 million for the top three teams.
“We are determined to make the SportPesa League highly competitive. Every player must feel they are striving for something meaningful,” said Karauri.
“Initially, we had allocated KSh 6 million as prize money, but after consultations with the FKF President, we agreed to increase it to make the competition more rewarding. The existing contract allows for flexible adjustment of the prize fund, and we’ve now committed to KSh 10 million for the top three.”
Building on SportPesa’s gesture, FKF President Hussein Mohammed committed an additional KSh 10 million, bringing the total prize pool for the top three clubs to KSh 20 million.
This means the top three teams will now be competing for a combined total of 20 million shillings.
The champions will now receive 15 million shillings an increase from the previous five million, while the runners-up and second runners-up will compete for the remaining five million.
“In addition to the ten million shillings mentioned, FKF will inject another ten million. The clubs will now have 20 million shillings to be shared among the top three finishers at the end of the season.
This means the champions will get up to 15 million shillings, three million will go to the second-place team, and two million to the third,” Mohamed said.
Hussein confirmed that this prize money is a foundation they intend to build upon, with a mission to eventually reach a pot of at least fifty million shillings.
“This is something we will continue to develop. I believe this league has the potential to earn its champions up to 50 million shillings and beyond, and that is our direction.”
The SportPesa sponsorship is poised to significantly elevate the commercial and competitive landscape of the FKF Premier League, delivering substantial benefits for players, clubs, and fans.
A significant 60% of the sponsorship funds will be distributed directly to the clubs as grants. The remaining 40% is allocated to cover administrative and operational costs, ensuring the competition runs efficiently and to a high standard.
This long-term collaboration ushers in a new era of financial stability and growth for Kenyan football. Both parties are committed to a shared vision of raising the game’s standards and enhancing the overall structure and competitiveness of the league.
