By Our Correspondent
The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) and Azam Media Group have put illegal streamers of SportPesa League matches on notice, warning they will face prosecution.
In a joint statement, the two organizations raised alarm over the increasing cases of unauthorized live streaming of league matches on social media platforms.
The illegal broadcasts, recorded from inside stadiums or from television screens, violate exclusive broadcast rights held by Azam Group Limited and FKF.
“Any unauthorized recording, streaming or redistribution of match content is illegal and amounts to piracy,” the statement read.
The practice has emerged as a major threat to the league’s commercial sustainability.
FKF and Azam warned that illegal streaming directly undermines broadcast revenues, diminishes sponsorship value, and denies clubs their rightful share of commercial benefits.
The organizations said piracy ultimately threatens the growth and development of Kenyan football, which depends heavily on broadcast and commercial partnerships.
“This practice directly harms the league and its clubs. It reduces broadcast and commercial revenues, weakens sponsorship value, and ultimately denies clubs the full commercial benefit of the competition,” the statement noted.
Under the current arrangement, FKF retains Free-To-Air (FTA) rights for the league, while Azam holds exclusive broadcast and media rights for other platforms.
The two entities have called on clubs, fans, and stakeholders to protect the value of the league by respecting broadcast rights and discouraging all forms of illegal streaming.
They warned that appropriate legal and regulatory measures will be applied against individuals or entities found involved in piracy or illegal distribution of SportPesa League content.
The directive takes immediate effect, signalling a tougher stance against piracy as Kenyan football seeks to maximise revenue streams for the sustainable development of the sport.