Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohamed has declared zero tolerance for violence in Kenyan football, warning that those responsible for the chaos that marred the promotion/relegation play-off between Mombasa United and Kariobangi Sharks will face the full force of the law.
In an interview with Nation Sport, Mohamed condemned the assault on referee John Sulwe during the second leg of the play-off last Tuesday, saying that the safety of match officials, players and spectators must be guaranteed.
“Safety and security in our stadiums is paramount. We must be very tough against hooliganism and there will be no exception,” Mohamed said on phone from Cabo Verde, where he is attending a Confederation of African Football (CAF) strategy conference.
A Kariobangi Sharks fan viciously attacks centre referee John Sulwe during FKF Premier League promotion play-offs second leg match against Mombasa United at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on October 6, 2026.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo | Nation Media Group
Last Tuesday, irate fans alongside members of Kariobangi Sharks technical staff invaded the pitch and attacked Sulwe after he awarded Mombasa United a penalty in the 62nd minute. The violence forced the abandonment of the match at Ulinzi Sports Complex.
“We will pursue the people who participate in the violence and involve law enforcement agencies. Going forward, this will apply to anyone who engages in violence in our stadiums,” Mohamed said.
On Friday, FKF Leagues and Competitions Committee awarded Mombasa United a 2-0 victory after ruling that Sharks had forfeited the match.
The decision confirmed Mombasa United’s promotion to the top flight for the first time in their history.
The committee found that Kariobangi Sharks kit manager Patrick Paul Otieno and a section of the club’s supporters had invaded the pitch and physically assaulted Sulwe.
After being assessed by medical personnel, the referee informed the match commissioner that he could not continue, leading to the match being abandoned. The incident was reported at Lang’ata Police Station.
The committee invoked Articles 3.3.2 and 3.3.3 of the Rules and Regulations Governing Kenyan Football (2019) to award the match to Mombasa United.
It also referred the violence and misconduct to the FKF Disciplinary Committee for further proceedings and appropriate sanctions.
Experienced football administrator Lordvick Aduda believes Sharks have little room to challenge the decision, given the circumstances surrounding the abandonment.
“Kariobangi Sharks have no grounds to lodge a case since it is perceived that their members and fans caused the abandonment,” Aduda told Nation Sport.
Aduda cited Rule 2.2.3 of the 2019 regulations, which empowers the relevant FKF body to investigate complaints and determine alleged breaches of the rules. Rule 3.5.6 provides for forfeiture where a match is abandoned because of misconduct by a club’s members or supporters.
Beyond forfeiture, those found culpable could face additional sanctions.
Kariobangi Sharks players confront centre referee John Sulwe during their FKF Premier League promotion play-offs second leg match against Mombasa United at Ulinzi Sports Complex in Nairobi on October 6, 2026.
Photo credit: Chris Omollo| Nation Media Group
According to Aduda, supporters involved in the assault may face criminal charges, while the kit manager could be barred from attending matches.
Players implicated in the violence may also face suspensions or other disciplinary measures, depending on the findings of the disciplinary committee.
“It can’t be assumed that Kariobangi Sharks will play in the National Super League because the issues facing them are very grave. The referee suffered injuries, the match was abandoned, and according to the law, all options are open. They can be relegated to a further lower league or even face a permanent ban,” he said.
In one of the most notorious incidents of crowd trouble, Baruti FC, an armed forced team from Stoni Athi, was expelled from the league after players attacked referee William Ngaah during a league match against Kenya Breweries (now Tusker), at City Stadium.
The players assaulted Ngaah after he awarded a penalty to Breweries, leaving him seriously injured.
Saferion Ouma, popularly known as Ouma Makadudi, and Zacharia Ouma were implicated in the attack. The incident remains a stark reminder of the consequences of violence against match officials.
On April 12, 2023, AFC Leopards fan by the name “Dennis” was banned for life for canning a referee during an aborted FKF Premier League contest pitting Kakamega Homeboyz and Ingwe at Bukhungu Stadium.
Dennis led a group of fans in storming the pitch and attacked referee Michael Obuya after he failed to call for what they felt was a penalty for their team.
In March 2025, AFC Leopards were expelled from the FKF Cup after being found responsible for fan trouble that forced the abandonment of their match against Mara Sugar FC.
The match, played at Jomo Kenyatta Stadium in Mamboleo, Kisumu, on March 8, was abandoned in the 89th minute after angry Leopards supporters invaded the pitch to protest a controversial decision by the centre referee.
In April 2017, Pascal Ogweno, then a Kariobangi Sharks central defender, received a six-match ban from the Kenya Premier League’s Independent Disciplinary and Complaints Committee for misconduct during a match against Posta Rangers at Afraha Stadium.
Ogweno had been sent off for deliberately handling the ball on the goal line. While the offence ordinarily attracted a three-match suspension, he received an additional punishment for snatching the red card from referee Moses Simiyu and tearing it. Sharks were also fined Sh100,000.
Mohamed warned that the latest incident could attract international scrutiny if it raises concerns about the safety and integrity of Kenyan football.
