FKF Division One is the third tier in the Kenyan football league system. It has a promotion and relegation system with the Kenyan National Super League and the Kenyan Provincial League. It is controlled by the Football Kenya Federation. Most member clubs are semi-professional, though some clubs are either fully professional or amateur.
History The league was formed after the Kenyan Nationwide League was divided into two 16-team zones in 2008. In 2009, the two zones were later restructured to form "Nationwide League Division One" and "Nationwide League Division Two", representing the second and third divisions of Kenyan football.Kenyafootball.com, 4 February 2009: FK splits Nationwide League in two Division One was later renamed the FKL Nationwide League after former governing body Football Kenya Limited, while Division Two was renamed the KFF Nationwide League after former governing body, the Kenya Football Federation. The two leagues were merged after the 2011 season, and the consequent league was divided into Zone A and Zone B, with teams from the eastern and western halves of Kenya, respectively. Due to a lack of enough teams from Zone B, a number of teams were promoted from the provincial leagues in the western half.
For the 2013 season, all Division One teams endorsed a decision to split both Zone A and Zone B into two groups of 12 teams each, increasing the total number of teams in the league to 48. The first group from Zone A comprised teams from the Nairobi, Aberdares and Mount Kenya regions while the second group comprise teams from the Eastern, North and South Coast regions. The first group from Zone B is to comprise teams from the South Nyanza, Central and South Rift regions, while the second group comprise teams from the North Nyanza, North Rift, and Western regions. Winners from each of these four groups will play the winners from the other group in their zone in a two-legged playoff to determine who gains promotion to the Kenyan Premier League for the following season.
From the beginning of the 2014 season, FKF Division One was lowered to the third tier of the Kenyan football league system to give way to the Kenyan National Super League, now putting it above the Kenyan Provincial League, in line with the introduction of a new six-tier system by the Football Kenya Federation to take effect at the beginning of that season.
Competition There are 24 clubs in each of the two divisions of the FKF Division One. These two divisions are further divided into two groups of 12 teams each. During the course of a season, each club plays the others twice (a double round-robin system), once at their home ground and once at that of their opponents. Teams receive three points for a win and one point for a draw. No points are awarded for a loss. Teams are ranked by total points, then goal difference, and then goals scored. At the end of each season, the winners of each of the 4 groups play the winners of the other group in their zone in a two-legged play-off tie to determine who advances to the Kenyan National Super League, in place of the last two teams from that league, who are then placed in their respective zones depending on their locations of origin. Promoted teams from the Provincial League are also placed in their respective zones depending on their locations of origin.
If points are equal, the goal difference and then goals scored determine the winner. If still equal, teams are deemed to occupy the same position. If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or for qualification to other competitions, a play-off match at a neutral venue decides rank.
Clubs
Zone A Zone A teams are based in Nairobi, Central, Eastern, North Eastern and Coast, representing the Eastern half of Kenya.
Club Position in 2012 Number of D1 titles Last D1 titleAdministration Police 0055th 0 0000n/aAdmiral 0033rd 0 0000n/aBidco United 0022nd 0 0000n/aCoast United 01212th 0 0000n/aCongo JMJ United 01111th 0 0000n/aGreen Berets 01313th 0 0000n/aJericho AllStars 0161st in Nairobi 0 0000n/aKambakia Christian Centre 0171st in Eastern 0 0000n/aKariobangi Sharks 0077th 0 0000n/aKenya Revenue Authority 01010th 0 0000n/aKibera Celtic 01414th 0 0000n/aLigi Ndogo 0066th 0 0000n/aMagongo Rangers 01515th 0 0000n/aMahakama 0044th 0 0000n/aMalindi 0181st in North Coast 0 0000n/aMaweni City 0191st in South Coast 0 0000n/aMOYAS 0099th 0 0000n/aNairobi Stima 0088th 0 0000n/aNyeri Stima 0201st in Central 0 0000n/aRangers 00116th in KPL 0 0000n/a
Zone B Zone B teams are based in Rift Valley, Western and Nyanza, representing the Western half of Kenya.
Club Position in 2012 Number of D1 titles Last D1 titleAgrochemical 0033rd 0 0000n/aComply 01616th 0 0000n/aFinlays Horticulture 0055th 0 0000n/aG.F.C. 105 01010th 0 0000n/aKisumu Municipal 01212th 0 0000n/aKolongolo 0171st in Western 0 0000n/aLongonot Horticulture 0099th 0 0000n/aMumcop 0202nd in Western 0 0000n/aNakuru AllStars 0044th 0 0000n/aNzoia United 0022nd 0 0000n/aOserian 00115th in KPL 0 0000n/aRaiders 0181st in Nyanza 0 0000n/aRush 01111th 0 0000n/aShabana Kisii 01414th 0 0000n/aSOIN Fluorspar 0077th 0 0000n/aSt. Joseph 0191st in Rift Valley 0 0000n/aTimsales 01313th 0 0000n/aUtawala 01515th 0 0000n/aWest Kenya Sugar 0066th 0 0000n/aZoo Kericho 0088th 0 0000n/a
Previous winners Zone A
2012: Bandari (Mombasa) 2013: Kenya Revenue Authority (Nairobi)
Zone B
2012: Kakamega Homeboyz (Kakamega) 2013: Top Fry AllStars (Nakuru)
Top scorers in recent seasons YearZone AZone B Player Club Goals Player Club Goals 2012 Roosevelt Blaty Admiral 32 Valen Semi Mahero Nzoia United 26 2013 Nelson Simwa West Kenya Sugar 14 Musa Ochieng Busia United Stars 11 Martin Oliech Oserian
References
External links Futaa.com – Kenyan Football Website