Former Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama is hopeful that Football Kenya Federation Premier League matches will attract more fans to stadiums after an impressive turnout during the ongoing 2024 African Nations Championship in Kenya, Tanzania and Uganda.

Speaking on a local TV station on Monday night, August 25, 2025, the former Tottenham Hotspur ace revealed that crowds played an important role towards the success of the CHAN 2024 tournament, especially during Harambee Stars fixtures at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.

Looking forward to experiencing the same atmosphere in the country’s top-tier league matches starting in September, Wanyama challenged local football fans to rally behind their teams in numbers ahead of the 2025/2026 FKF Premier League season.

Wanyama added that by fans going to stadia, the numbers will attract foreign players to the FKF Premier League, hence growing the local league that has stagnated for years.

”The turnout of the fans at CHAN has played a big part in this tournament, seeing that means a lot. Hopefully, it is not only CHAN that will bring them back to the stadium, I hope so during the league matches as well. Every player will want to play in Kenya by seeing the fanbase. Packed stadiums will attract a lot of foreign players, and our league will be better.” Wanyama said.

FKF Premier League fixtures

Meanwhile, Kenya’s football giants Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards will be in action on the opening weekend of the new FKF Premier League season, following the release of the 2025/26 fixtures on Wednesday, August 13, 2025.

Gor Mahia will begin their title chase against Bidco United in a home match set for Sunday, September 21, 2025, at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, with the Kick-off scheduled for 4:00 pm.

The 1998 champions, AFC Leopards, will launch their campaign a day earlier on Saturday, September 20, 2025, when they line up against Sofapaka. That tie will be played at Nyayo National Stadium from 4:00 pm.

The Saturday fixture will be part of a double-header at Nyayo National Stadium, where Tusker FC will take on KCB in the curtain-raiser earlier in the afternoon. Charles Okere’s Brewers will lock horns with Robert Matano’s Bankers in the season’s first official clash, kicking off at 1:00 pm.

Other games in the first round include Kariobangi Sharks facing Bandari on Sunday, September 21, 2025, at the Kasarani Annexe starting at 1:00 pm. Newly promoted APS Bomet will make their Premier League debut away at Gusii Stadium against Shabana FC the same afternoon from 2:00 pm.

Murang’a Seal, who narrowly avoided relegation last term, will host Ulinzi Stars at San Sebastian Park at 3:00 pm. Meanwhile, the opening round will close on Monday, September 22, 2025, with Mathare United playing Posta Rangers at the Kasarani Annexe from 4:00 pm.

Reigning champions Kenya Police are absent from the early fixtures as they focus on their CAF Champions League assignments. They will represent the country alongside Nairobi United, who qualified for the CAF Confederation Cup after clinching the FKF Cup last season.