- Mashemeji Derby postponed after hosts Gor Mahia confirm unavailability of suitable playing venue.
- Both Nyayo and Kasarani stadia are booked for other events.
- Football Kenya Federation expected to announce new dates for the clash.
The highly anticipated first leg of the Mashemeji Derby in the 2025/26 SportPesa League season has officially been postponed, marking yet another disruption to the country’s biggest football rivalry.
The clash between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, initially expected to ignite the league on 30 November 2025 at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, had been pushed back once again due to venue complications.
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) shifted it from Kasarani to Nyayo Stadium and brought it a day earlier, to 29 November 2025.
Mashemeji Derby postponed
However, even the alternative could not hold, forcing FKF to finally call off the match altogether as both Nyayo and Kasarani are unavailable, leaving the country without an approved venue to host the derby on the scheduled dates.
The primary reason behind the initial change of venue and date stems from Nairobi United’s CAF Confederation Cup commitments.
Naibois, who are making their debut in the group stages of the continental competition, will be using Kasarani to host AS Maniema Union from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
Having lost 3-0 to Morocco’s Wydad AC in their opening group match, Nairobi United are keen to secure a better result at home, and CAF fixtures automatically take precedence over local league matches. This forced the Mashemeji Derby out of Kasarani.
Nyayo Stadium, which FKF had later confirmed as the new host venue, was also ruled out.
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Why is Mashemeji Derby postponed?
The facility is set to host the World AIDS Day commemorations to be presided over by President William Ruto on Monday 1 December, with preparations beginning as early as Saturday.
This made it impossible for the ground to accommodate the high-profile league encounter.
This is not the first time the derby has faced disruption. Last season, the match was postponed twice.
First on 2 March and again on 11 May due to renovation works at both national stadiums ahead of the 2024 CHAN tournament that was co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.
Gor Mahia, the official hosts of the upcoming derby, confirmed the latest setback through a letter from Secretary General Nicanor Arum to FKF Leagues and Competitions Manager Frank Ogola.
In the letter, Arum stated that the club had been unable to secure a suitable venue for the derby and therefore requested postponement.
“I write to formally notify your office that, as the host team for the forthcoming SportPesa League match against AFC Leopards, we have been unable to secure a suitable venue for the fixture.
In light of this challenge, we kindly request that the match be postponed to a later date to be communicated by your office in due course,” read part of the letter.
SportPesa can confirm that Football Kenya Federation approved the request with new dates set be announced once a suitable stadium is confirmed.
