What began as questions over suspected fraud linked to the provision of insurance for the delayed 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) has now snowballed into a full-blown power struggle at the top of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
Yesterday morning, FKF president Hussein Mohammed held a press conference at the federation’s Goal Project offices in Kasarani, Nairobi, where he dismissed the decision by FKF National Executive Committee (NEC) to suspend him over several allegations, including corruption and conflict of interest.
Also suspended by the NEC are FKF’s acting General Secretary and Chief Executive Officer, Dennis Gicheru, and nominated NEC member, Abdullahi Yussuf Ibrahim. The committee made the decision on Friday evening, with nine out of the 12 NEC members, led by deputy president McDonald Mariga, signing the resolution.
In a move aimed at asserting their authority, the nine NEC members also addressed the media last evening in Nairobi. During the meeting, Mariga confirmed that he has accepted to take over as acting FKF president.
“To ensure continuity of operations, the NEC has mandated me to take up the role of acting president, a mandate which I have accepted and assumed with immediate effect,” the former Harambee Stars player declared. Mariga also signed off as acting FKF president in a statement that the nine NEC members shared with the media after the briefing.
In his press briefing, Hussein was flanked by Gicheru.
Gicheru replaced Harold Ndege in February this year after the latter was forced out of office following a bitter fallout with Mohammed. The embattled FKF president stated that the NEC’s resolution on Friday held no merit, citing a violation of the FKF Constitution.
He cited Article 38, Clause 2 of the FKF Constitution, which states that the federation’s president shall convene NEC meetings.
The clause further provides that in case at least 50 percent of the NEC membership requests for a meeting, the president must convene it within 21 days; failure to which the members may convene the meeting themselves.
“The purported meeting held on 24th April 2026 was not convened in accordance with the FKF Constitution (2017) and is therefore irregular, unlawful and unconstitutional. Consequently, any decisions arising from it are null and void,” Mohammed stated.
In the 2024 Chan insurance cover, which has ignited the bitter fallout, FKF is accused of irregularly wiring $328,735 (Sh42.48 million) to Riskwell Insurance Brokers Limited yet the firm was not licensed to operate in the country. Documents seen by Nation Sport indicate that FKF made the payment on August 4, 2025, just two days after the kick-off of the tournament, which was co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania from August 2-30, 2025. Documents from the Insurance Regulatory Authority show that Riskwell Insurance Brokers Limited was not licensed to operate as an insurance brokerage firm in 2025. The firm was also missing from the list of the 237 companies that the IRA had licensed to operate in the country as at October 31, 2025.
Further, Riskwell was not among the companies which submitted quotations for the insurance cover, which is a requirement in CAF tournaments.
Kenyan footballer McDonald Mariga.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Mohammed denied involvement in the alleged fraud, stating that it was the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which procured the tournament’s insurance cover, and that no public funds were lost as the federation did not spend any money on the policy.
“The required insurance cover for Chan 2024 was procured by CAF, not myself and was fully secured and maintained throughout the tournament. Contrary to the malicious reports, FKF did not transfer or pay any money to any insurance company for Chan competitions,” Mohammed said.
A statement issued by the nine NEC members on Friday announcing the suspension of the trio appeared to confirm earlier reports of divisions within the committee, with some members allegedly unable to fully perform their duties.
Fifa President Gianni Infantino is welcomed by Football Kenya Federation boss Hussein Mohammed upon his arrival in Nairobi on August 29, 2025 for the 2024 African Nations Championships final.
Photo credit: Pool
sidelined from performing their executive roles within FKF, which is contrary to the FKF Constitution,” read part of the statement.
Read: Chan scandal: Riskwell Insurance got Sh42m without bidding
These claims were further fuelled by Mariga’s noticeable absence from several FKF activities, including those attended by Mohammed.
Football Kenya Federation president Hussein Mohammed during the federation's congress at Sports View Hotel in Nairobi on May 31, 2025.
Photo credit: Courtesy of FKF
While Mariga never publicly responded to the speculations, Mohammed insisted that all was well between them. Given the key role Ndege played in Mohammed’s election into office, their quick fallout came as a shocker to many within the Kenyan football circles. Ndege lasted barely a year in the role.
Mohammed cited 21 reasons for his removal, including poor planning in the appointment of the Under-17 technical bench, chronic absenteeism and improper discharge of duties, contempt and gross breakdown of communication with the president, failure to provide leadership in Leagues, Competitions, and Security to curb hooliganism and crowd control initiatives. Ndege, however, maintained his innocence, insisting that he was being witch-hunted by the president and his close allies.
