Fifa rescues FKF boss as leadership war deepens

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Hussein Mohammed . [File, Standard]

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Hussein Mohammed yesterday received a major boost after world football governing body, Fifa, rejected attempts by a section of the National Executive Committee (NEC) to suspend him from office, deepening an already bitter leadership crisis at the federation.

In a strongly worded communication copied to the Confederation of African Football (CAF), Fifa ruled that the decisions made by certain NEC members were not compliant with the federation’s constitution and therefore could not be recognised.

The development comes weeks after nine NEC members announced Mohammed’s suspension over alleged financial misconduct, governance concerns and procurement irregularities linked to the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).

The faction had also sought to temporarily remove Acting General Secretary Dennis Gicheru and NEC member Abdullahi Yusuf while recommending FKF vice president McDonald Mariga to take over in an acting capacity pending investigations.

However, Fifa has now effectively thrown out that resolution, insisting that the process used to adopt the decision violated Article 41 of the FKF Constitution and failed to meet the required procedural threshold.

“Fifa is not in a position to recognise decisions taken by certain members of the National Executive Committee that were not adopted in full compliance with Article 41 and the related procedural provisions of the FKF Constitution,” Fifa stated.

The Zurich-based body further warned that actions taken outside the federation’s constitutional framework could not produce “valid legal effects” within FKF.

Fifa also cautioned FKF officials against making rushed decisions that could destabilise the federation, especially during what it described as a period of “heightened institutional significance.”

The letter appears to hand Mohammed a temporary reprieve at a time when pressure has continued mounting over the federation’s governance and financial management.

The embattled FKF boss has repeatedly insisted that he remains the legitimately elected president despite the attempted suspension and the public fallout within the federation’s leadership.

FKF later released its own statement welcoming Fifa's intervention, saying the federation remained committed to constitutional order, transparency and institutional stability.

“The Federation further takes note of FIFA’s emphasis on institutional stability, due process, restraint, and the need for all football stakeholders to always operate within the recognised constitutional framework,” FKF said.

The federation added that it would continue working closely with Fifa and CAF to ensure continuity of football activities and programmes in the country.

Despite the ruling, the crisis surrounding Kenyan football leadership remains far from over.

Mohammed is still facing intense scrutiny over allegations tied to the CHAN insurance tender scandal, which has attracted the attention of lawmakers, regulators and sections of the FKF NEC.

Speaking to the press on the response by Fifa at Serena Hotel yesterday, the FKF boss, visibly reprieved, asked for unity within the federation.

“Football unites us. My first option is that we all come, work and move together as a team. I cannot succeed in isolation. We have to have aligned interests in whatever we do,” he said.

He then urged any disgruntled NEC members to follow due process and operate within the FKF constitution.

“There are two matters in court, judicial processes to address these things so that we can find solutions if unable to agree. I am a big proponent of following the law, statutes and adhering to the country’s constitution. What happened a month ago was a gross violation of my constitutional right,” he urged.

“You can imagine being smeared all over the country as this individual who has done…and when it comes to light, you can see I have a lot of work to do and clear my name. The damage has been done,” he concluded.

The NEC, through a statement, also welcomed the response and committed to working with all stakeholders.

"We remain fully committed to working collaboratively with Fifa, CAF and all stakeholders to ensure stability, unity, and the continued growth of Kenyan football. The NEC will continue to discharge its mandate responsibly, guided by the rule of law and the principle of fair and transparent governance," NEC said. 

The Sports Disputes Tribunal (SDT) had earlier issued temporary orders halting the implementation of the NEC resolution after a case was filed challenging the legality of the suspension.

FKF has recently been dragged into court by logistics company Topline Logistics Limited over an alleged unpaid Sh64 million bill related to CHAN services, further compounding the federation’s troubles.

The federation has since responded by writing to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), seeking investigations into contracts signed during the tenure of former FKF General Secretary Harold Ndege.

Even as the internal wrangles continue, Kenya remains under pressure to maintain stability within football administration ahead of the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON), which the country will co-host alongside Uganda and Tanzania.