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Court extends injunction against Kenyan Premier League

Xinhua, March 6, 2015 Adjust font size:

A Kenyan High Court on Thursday stayed an injunction against Kenyan Premier League (KPL) to conduct their top flight competition until March 13 when the civil suit against them filed by rival Football Kenya Federation (FKF) is determined.

Once again, drama was witnessed at the compound of Nairobi's Milimani High Court when a section of over 100 fans that turned up for Thursday's hearing heckled KPL's CEO Jack Oguda, accusing the league management company of scuttling club football in the country by opposing the federation.

In what was a seemingly well orchestrated move, FKF vice- president, Robert Asembo, who was forced to run for his life from the same court on Tuesday, arrived with a gang of youth in tow for the hearing before civil court judge, Lady Justice Amburili who told the parties she will rule on the injunction order and contempt of court charges against KPL next Friday.

She further announced she would issue a ruling on the prayers of two suspended officials, former FKF vice-president Sammy Shollei and FKF Nairobi Delegate Dan Shikanda to be enjoined in the suit on Friday.

Justice Amburili further directed FKF and KPL to submit their written applications to the court on Monday, regretting her call on Tuesday to give both warring parties 48 hours to arrive at a resolution of their impasse had failed to defuse the standoff outside the corridors of justice.

Court chamber 208 was a beehive of activity as fans, top officials of FKF and KPL and their lawyers argued their case in a suit that was filed by the federation on Feb. 26 seeking to stop their adversaries from conducting their parallel top flight.

KPL who went ahead to hold the first round of their competition on the weekend of Feb. 27 and 28 before announcing the suspension of the league, filed a responding suit with Judge Amburili listening to both sides for the first time on Tuesday.

Thursday's development means the KPL competition that has 14 teams and a broadcast sponsor in South Africa's SuperSport will not run for a second successive week, putting the fate of about 750 players and officials in limbo. Endite