Posta Rangers will continue to feature in the FKF Premier League (FKFPL) next season after holding off Naivas FC to secure a 2-1 aggregate victory in the two-legged promotion/relegation playoff, despite losing the second leg 1-0 on Wednesday at the SportPesa Arena in Murang’a.
The Nairobi-based side had laid the groundwork in the first leg with a convincing 2-0 win in Thika last weekend, courtesy of a brace from striker Felix Ochieng. In the return leg, however, it was Naivas who came out fighting.
Markvivian Kesa gave the National Super League (NSL) hopefuls early hope when he capitalized on a defensive error in the 22nd minute to put his side 1-0 up. The goal not only sparked belief among the Naivas players but also energized their supporters as they chased the two-goal deficit.
Coach Elvis Ayany’s men pushed hard for a second, with creative midfielder Robert Karisa pulling strings in midfield and Kesa continuing to threaten the Rangers backline. Substitute Justus Akweywa came agonizingly close late in the game, but Rangers’ goalkeeper Bixente Otieno made a crucial save to preserve the aggregate lead.
Posta Rangers’ resilience was tested further when key midfielder Oliver Maloba was stretchered off injured midway through the second half. Despite the setback, the mailmen defended doggedly and held on to seal their survival in Kenya’s top tier.
Aggregate Score: Posta Rangers 2–1 Naivas FC
- First Leg (Thika): Posta Rangers 2–0 Naivas FC
- Second Leg (Murang’a): Naivas FC 1–0 Posta Rangers
Posta Rangers finished 16th in the 2024/25 FKF Premier League standings, which placed them in the playoff zone. Their narrow escape from relegation means they’ll compete in the 2025/26 FKFPL season.
For Naivas FC, it’s another bitter pill to swallow. This marks the second consecutive season they’ve failed to earn promotion via the playoff route, having also lost last season’s decider against Sofapaka. Despite finishing third in the NSL for two years in a row, their promotion ambitions have again fallen short.
Kesa’s early goal and Naivas’ spirited push underscored the NSL side’s potential, but their lack of clinical finishing in the final third ultimately proved costly. Head coach Elvis Ayany now faces the task of regrouping for yet another promotion campaign in 2025/26.
Since the FKFPL playoff system was introduced seven years ago, only two NSL clubs—Vihiga United (2020) and Kisumu All Stars—have succeeded in gaining promotion via the playoff route. The format continues to favor top-tier clubs with more experience and depth.
