Kenya’s football federation expels vice-president Mariga and six executives

A special general meeting of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) expelled vice-president McDonald Mariga and six National Executive Committee members on Saturday, following a split with federation president Hussein Mohammed. Mariga has petitioned FIFA to overturn his removal.

Mohammed and Mariga were elected president and vice-president together in December 2024 on the Team Fresh ticket, before dividing into rival camps on the committee. Mariga is a former professional footballer who played as a defensive midfielder.

Disruption and disputed process

At the Three Steers Hotel in Meru, 66 of the federation’s 92 delegates attended. Mariga and several allies were each removed with 65 votes in favor; the remaining expulsions also received overwhelming support, Inside World Football said.

Police fired tear gas as officials and rival groups gathered. Mariga arrived with an armed police escort but was later prevented from entering. The meeting proceeded after several hours of disruption.

Mariga alleges that those facing expulsion were denied a proper hearing, accredited delegates were kept out and no secret ballot was held. Mohammed said the officials had been invited to answer the charges against them; his opponents say they were prevented from doing so.

How the leadership split developed

The split became public in April 2026, when a Mariga-aligned group attempted to suspend Mohammed, acting general secretary Dennis Gicheru and committee member Abdullahi Yusuf over allegations concerning a KSh42.48 million insurance arrangement. The allegations remain disputed, and no fraud charges have been brought.

Earlier in November, FIFA blocked a committee meeting called by Mariga’s faction, ruling that the request used to convene it did not provide a valid constitutional basis.

Kenya is scheduled to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with Uganda and Tanzania from 19 June to 17 July. CAF has not suggested that Kenya’s hosting rights are threatened; much of the infrastructure work rests with the government and local organizing committee rather than the FKF alone.

Mariga said he has given FIFA material about the dispute and is consulting lawyers about a possible challenge at Kenya’s Sports Disputes Tribunal.