UPDATE: The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) on Monday, July 20, announced BetKing Kenya as it’s official Division One League title sponsor in a Ksh100 Million 5-year deal.
This will see the league referred to as the BetKing Division One League.
Under the partnership announced by FKF President Nick Mwendwa, each of the 32 Division One clubs from Zone A and Zone B will be entitled to at least Ksh500,000 annual grant from the Federation.
“This is the first time in the history of Kenyan football that the Division One league has attracted a sponsor and so we are happy to announce yet another milestone as we endeavor to raise Kenyan football’s commercial value. We believe this deal, which further underpins BetKing’s commercial developmental role in football, both at the national and grassroot level will not only help ease our clubs’ financial obligations but also play a pivotal role in raising the level of competition in the league,” Mwendwa stated.
UPDATE 11:30 a.m.: Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has announced the renaming of the Kenyan Premier League to BetKing Premier League.
Making the announcement at FKF headquarters in Nairobi, FKF boss Nick Mwendwa stated that the new name came with a Ksh1.2 billion sponsorship deal with betting firm - BetKing Kenya.
The new deal will see Kenya's football league fully sponsored for the next 5 years.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa, is set to unveil a new 5-year sponsorship deal that will see Ksh1.2 billion pumped into the Kenyan Football League.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, an enthusiatic Mwendwa stated that the details of the new deal would be read out during a press conference later in the day.
The FKF president also took to his social media account to share the good news, as he could not contain his joy over the sponsorship deal that serves as a major boost to the local football scene.
"Raha ni kama hii buda !! 1.2 Billion for 5 years Title sponsor peke yake. Nilisema nitarudi (happiness is a 5-year sponsorship deal worth Ksh1.2 billon. I told you I'd be back)," he tweeted.
Mwendwa put pen to paper on Wednesday midmorning at the federation’s headquarters.
The deal signed with BetKing Kenya will cover the top-tier league KPL, Women League and the lower-tier leagues.
This comes at a time when the Kenyan Football League was brought to its knees after the exit of the previous sponsor.
To paint a picture of just how dire the situation was, Kenyan Champions Gor Mahia were kicked out of the CAF Champions league 2019, mainly due to lack of funds.
The 17-time league champions had to call for a fundraiser just to facilitate their trip to North Africa to honour an away fixture during the continental club competition.
AFC Leopards alias Ingwe may also have another reason to smile, after the club revealed ongoing talks with prominent businessman-cum-politician Zedekiah Kiprop Bundotich.
According to the club, Buzeki held lengthy discussions with club officials led by chairman Dr Dan Shikanda as they explored the possibility of working together.
The businessman conveyed his love for the club going on to reveal that he is a life-long Ingwe supporter.
“We have to stop talking and walk the talk. The Club can share the kind of engagement they would like to have with us and we can work out a mutually beneficial partnership," Buzeki stated following the closed-door meeting.
Football clubs around the country are currently preparing for the resumption of football league after a five-months break, as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.
