The best of the SportPesa League were honoured on Thursday, June 4, 2026, during a glamorous end-of-season awards gala held at the Glee Hotel in Nairobi.
Players, coaches, match officials, content creators and fans gathered to celebrate a season filled with memorable moments, outstanding performances and fierce competition across the league.
Morrison Crowned Player of the Season
After a stellar campaign that helped Gor Mahia secure the league title, Enock Morrison walked away with the biggest individual accolade of the night after being named the SportPesa League Player of the Season.
The influential midfielder beat off competition from AFC Leopards defender Jimmy Owili and top scorer Joseph Waithera to claim the prestigious award.
Morrison’s impressive season did not end there. The Gor Mahia star also scooped the Best Midfielder award, edging out Tyson Otieno and Estone Esiye.
Akonnor Named Coach of the Season
Gor Mahia’s successful season was further reflected in the coaching category, where head coach Charles Akonnor was voted Coach of the Season.
Akonnor guided K’Ogalo to an impressive league campaign and overcame competition from AFC Leopards’ Fred Ambani and APS Bomet’s Sammy Omollo to take home the award.
Aroko Recognized as Best Young Player
Kariobangi Sharks youngster Humphrey Aroko was rewarded for his outstanding breakthrough season after being named Young Player of the Season.
Aroko finished ahead of Kevin Wangaya and Robinson Musungu, both of whom also enjoyed excellent campaigns.
Owili’s Outstanding Season Rewarded
Jimmy Owili’s remarkable season earned him the Best Defender award. The Mara Sugar defender was instrumental at the back while also proving a threat going forward, finishing the campaign with nine assists to top the league’s assist charts.
His all-round performances saw him finish ahead of Abud Omar and Wycliffe Omondi in the defender category.
Waithera and Ochieng Claim Golden Awards
The race for individual statistical honours also came to a close during the gala. Joe Waithera was presented with the Golden Boot award after finishing as the league’s top scorer with 19 goals, while Stephen Ochieng received the Golden Glove award for registering 16 clean sheets during the season.
Players Recognize Waithira’s Outstanding Season
While Joe Waithera narrowly missed out on the Player of the Season award, his impressive campaign did not go unnoticed by his peers.
The striker was voted the Players’ Player of the Season, an award determined by votes from the league’s team captains. The recognition reflects the respect Waithera earned across the league through his performances, consistency and impact throughout the season.
Being chosen by fellow players is often regarded as one of the highest honours in football, making the award a fitting reward for a player who consistently delivered for his team during the 2025/26 campaign.
Mara Sugar Sweep Discipline Awards
Mara Sugar enjoyed a memorable evening after sweeping the discipline awards. The club was named the Most Disciplined Team in the league, while midfielder Drona Openda received the Most Disciplined Player award, highlighting the club’s commitment to fair play throughout the season.
Match Officials Honoured
The gala also recognized the contribution of match officials who maintained high standards throughout the campaign. Josephine Wanjiku was named Referee of the Year ahead of Badir Yassin and Stephen Rimba.
In the assistant referee category, Boniface Karanja took top honours, beating Elizabeth Njoroge and Churchill Omondi.
Content Creators and Journalists Recognized
Away from the pitch, the league also celebrated individuals helping grow the game through storytelling and digital engagement. SPM Buzz’s Hussein Kiddo was named Digital Content Creator of the Year, while Washington Onyango of The Standard won the Best Writer award.
Fan of the Season
One of the loudest cheers of the night was reserved for Taya Dok, who was named Fan of the Season.
The passionate supporter was recognized for tirelessly creating catchy and creative tunes that energized Gor Mahia supporters throughout the campaign, further enriching the matchday atmosphere and fan experience. AFC Leopards’ Abraham Otieno and Shabana’s Frank Mombasa were also recognized for their efforts to make the league more colorful.
As the curtain falls on the 2025/26 SportPesa League season, the awards gala provided a fitting opportunity to celebrate excellence on and off the pitch while setting the stage for another exciting campaign ahead.
