By Bonface Mulyungi

National Super League leaders Migori Youth FC have received a major boost in their push for promotion after the Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) temporarily suspended a decision by the FKF Appeals Committee that had docked the club three points.

The tribunal, sitting in Nairobi under Deputy Chairperson Allan Mola Owinyi, certified the matter as urgent and issued interim orders staying the implementation of the Appeals Committee ruling delivered on June 2, 2026.

The orders will remain in force pending the hearing and determination of the case.

The dispute stems from Migori Youth’s January National Super League match against Kabati Youth FC.

The FKF Appeals Committee found that Migori Youth fielded Collins Ouma Otieno, a player it deemed ineligible due to registration irregularities.

According to the committee, the player’s registration was finalized on January 8, 2026, before the official opening of the transfer window on January 12.

As a result, the committee ordered Migori Youth to forfeit three points and imposed a KSh100,000 fine.

The decision significantly affected the club’s title ambitions and race for automatic promotion to the FKF Premier League.

However, Migori Youth swiftly moved to the Sports Disputes Tribunal seeking to challenge the ruling.

In its directions issued on June 3, the tribunal not only stayed the Appeals Committee decision but also restrained the Football Kenya Federation and its agents from implementing the sanctions until the matter is heard inter-partes.

In a statement released after receiving the orders, Migori Youth welcomed the tribunal’s intervention, saying the club believes in due process and the rule of law.

The club further assured its supporters, sponsors, and stakeholders that it remains focused on its sporting objectives while the legal process takes its course.

The temporary injunction means the three-point deduction is frozen for now, restoring Migori Youth’s position at the top of the National Super League standings.

 The case is set to be mentioned before the tribunal on June 8, with the outcome expected to have significant implications for both the promotion race and the interpretation of player registration rules in Kenyan football.