Thika United managed to keep their Kenyan Premier League status next year after winning first ever relegation playoff on 2-1 aggregate against Ushuru on Christmas Eve.

Thika finished 16th in the 2017 KPL season and were paired against Ushuru, who finished 3rd in the National Super League for a two legged playoff for a spot in the topflight.

The first leg last week at Thika Stadium ended 2-1 in favor of the hosts with the return leg yesterday at Narok Stadium settling for barren draw.

Meanwhile Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria has rewarded the team with Kshs 300,000 for surviving the chop.

“I have kept my promise to reward them with Kshs 300,000 if they survive in KPL.

“Now the plans to rename the club as Mt. Kenya United will go ahead with utmost urgency,” Kuria told Goal.com.

The move to rename the club according the law maker is to make it more appealing to the larger Central Kenya region.