Nakumatt, Zoo Kericho suspended from KPL

Nakumatt and Zoo Kericho have been suspended indefinitely from this season's SportPesa Premier League.

The Kenya Premier League Limited, which manages the country's top football competition, made this announcement on Friday in compliance with a High Court ruling made by Justice John Mativo on Thursday.

Mativo directed that the league reverts to a 16-team competition after hearing a case filed by former Football Kenya Federation president Sam Nyamweya who challenged the composition of the league in March 2016.

"We are committed to respecting the Rule of Law and the decision to suspend the two clubs has been arrived at following the review of article 28(d) of the ruling received," KPL's statement read in part.

Consequently, Sunday's pre-arranged league assignments pitting Nakumatt against Western Stima in Kisumu, and Zoo Kericho versus Nzoia United in Kericho will now not take place.

"Our team is already in Kisumu preparing for that game. I just don't know what to do," Nakumatt CEO Albert Wesonga said.

"I have never seen such a thing in my life," Zoo coach Sammy Okoth, an ex-international, added.

"As a result we have 100 people, about 60 players, including myself, who have been rendered jobless just like that and yet we have worked very hard since January (the start of the league season). We are all very devastated."

Nakumatt and Zoo Kericho are currently ranked 12th and 13th in the 18-team league standings after 25 rounds of matches.

Current Football Kenya Federation president Nick Mwendwa has meanwhile said they will appeal this decision.