Kakamega Homeboyz Surge, AFC Leopards Struggle and Gor Mahia Grind On: FKFPL Week 9 Talking Points

Week 9 of the FKF Premier League delivered drama both on and off the pitch, with broadcast confusion, sluggish derbies, rising title contenders, and giants struggling for momentum. 

From the much-anticipated but ultimately frustrating Murang’a Seal–Shabana broadcast saga, to a lifeless clash between Gor Mahia and Tusker, to AFC Leopards’ growing woes, Kenyan football fans were left with plenty to debate. 

Meanwhile, Kakamega Homeboyz continued their impressive surge, signaling a potential shake-up in the title race. Here are the major talking points from a weekend that raised as many questions as it answered.

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The clash between Murang’a Seal and Shabana was set to be aired on KBC last Sunday, nearly a year and a half since the last time a top flight clash was broadcasted on the platform.

Both sides, who are incidentally sponsored by gaming firm SportPesa- which is also the league’s title sponsor, played out a 1-1 draw, but the failure to be broadcasted on the free-to-air platform raised more questions than answers.

In December 2024, former Sports CS Kipchumba Murkomen had canceled the deal between Football Kenya Federation and KBC to broadcast league games, citing a lack of enough funding to cover clubs last season.

However, FKF kept listing KBC as a partner, and even televised national team games. So when the league announced that the fixture was set to be broadcast, there was a lot of excitement and optimism, only for it not to be aired.

Both clubs, as well as FKF and SportPesa, have since released a joint statement clarifying the reason the game never aired was purely technical. 

Looking on the bright side, having KBC returning in order to compliment Azam TV, who have otherwise been the ones broadcasting Kenyan league games, is a step in the right direction in efforts to give the division as much exposure as possible.

Although it was meant to be a historic milestone between two giants of Kenyan football, the game between Gor Mahia and Tusker at Kasarani Stadium last Saturday was anything but eventful.

Although Gor Mahia won thanks to an unfortunate own goal by Collins Odhiambo in the seventh minute, both sides struggled to really gain control of the match, with no real chances created by either team.

One could make a genuine claim to have witnessed more entertainment in a library, and it was not great advertisement for the Kenyan league given its lack of quality.

For the third game in a row, AFC Leopards were denied all three points, as they were held to a 1-1 draw by Kariobangi Sharks. Although they still remain third in the league on 14 points, they already sit five points adrift of sworn rivals Gor Mahia.

In their previous game, they were held to a 0-0 draw by Murang’a Seal, and were shocked 2-0 by Mara Sugar in Awendo completely against the run of play.

After the game, Fred Ambani blamed the draw on appalling officiating, but regardless, the failure to win puts him under pressure ahead of the upcoming Mashemeji Derby on Saturday, a clash he brags to have never lost either in his playing or coaching days against Gor Mahia.  He will need a win to get the monkey off his back.

Kakamega Homeboyz have been taking the league by storm this season under the stewardship of the returning Patrick ‘Luwowo’ Odhiambo.

Abana Beingo finished on very strong run of form at the end of last season under Francis Baraza, who returned to Tanzania. Odhiambo, who returned after a sticky spell in charge of KCB, now looks like he is hungry for the league title.

Two and a half years ago, he was the man that led Homeboyz to the FKF Cup title, and now it looks like his charges will stop at nothing in the hunt for the title against Gor Mahia, who sit atop of the league.

Homeboyz have lost just twice, drawn three and won five, which puts them second on 18 points behind K’Ogalo. They will be hoping they can keep their good run going.

With broadcast uncertainty, uninspiring derbies, pressure piling on giants, and underdogs rising, Week 9 perfectly captured the unpredictable heartbeat of the FKF Premier League. 

As the Mashemeji Derby looms and the title race tightens, fans can expect even more twists in the weeks ahead—because in Kenyan football, nothing stays predictable for long.