Former Harambee Stars head coach Zedekiah ‘Zico’ Otieno has called on the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) to consider handing over the management of Kenya’s top-flight league to an independent body.Download our Mozzart Sport app for more newsZico believes separating the running of the league from the federation would improve its administration and help resolve disputes more objectively, arguing that FKF can struggle to remain neutral when it is both the regulator and manager of the competition.Tusker chairman reveals the club's new home ground for 2026-2027 seasonThe Posta Rangers coach pointed to the period when the top-flight was managed by Kenya Premier League Limited (KPL), arguing that the competition recorded significant progress during that era compared to the period under direct federation management.The top-flight has been managed by FKF since 2020 following the end of KPL's tenure, with the competition subsequently operating under the federation's structures.##NAJAVA_MECA_9978882##Zico wants stakeholders to assess both periods and establish what worked and what did not, particularly in areas such as stability, growth and administration.“If we can go back and take stock of when the independent body (KPL) and FKF were running the league, so that we see where we did well and not in terms of stabilisation, growth and such,” Zico said.Why Patrick Matasi believes he deserves second chance with Harambee StarsHe argued that the model of having an independent organisation oversee the league is common in established footballing nations, citing South Africa and European leagues as examples.“Not every top league is run by the federation. Move around the world, most top leagues, go to South Africa, Europe, are run by independent bodies,” he added.##NAJAVA_MECA_9978709##According to the former Gor Mahia tactician, the separation of roles would also help create a clearer framework for handling disagreements involving clubs, players and other stakeholders.“Federations will always have interested parties when they are the ones to handle the league. Moreover, when we have disputes, they won’t be neutral because they are interested parties in the game,” he stated.Taiwo Atieno announces return to professional football at 41His remarks come amid renewed debate over the most suitable structure for running Kenya’s top division, with clubs and other football stakeholders having previously pushed for the competition to return to an independent management model.Under KPL, the league was administered by a separate company established by the participating clubs, while FKF retained its wider regulatory responsibilities.##NAJAVA_MECA_9978706##The question of league management has continued to feature prominently in discussions around the development of Kenyan football, particularly as clubs seek greater commercial stability, improved administration and stronger structures around the competition.Zico's proposal therefore adds to calls from sections of the football fraternity for a review of the current model and a possible return to an independently managed top-flight league.Inside Aboud's Ksh4million demand that saw him ditch PoliceWith the debate continuing, the focus is now on whether FKF and the clubs can reach a consensus on a structure that clearly separates the federation's regulatory role from the day-to-day running of the country's premier competition.