World football governing body, Fifa has said it is treating with utmost seriousness, the ongoing dispute in the leadership of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF).
In a statement on Sunday, Fifa said it is working jointly with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to get to the bottom of the matter and to establish whether the decision by the majority of the National Executive Committee (NEC) members to suspend president Hussein Mohammed, Acting General Secretary Dennis Gicheru, and nominated NEC member Abdullahi Yusuf Ibrahim complied with the FKF’s constitution.
Nine of out 14 FKF NEC members, led by deputy president McDonald Mariga, on Friday convened a meeting where they signed a resolution to suspend the trio over allegations on corruption, conflict of interest and breaches of the Public Procurement and Assets Disposal Act 2015 and Public Finance Management Act. The majority of NEC members appointed Mariga as the acting president pending the conclusion of the ongoing investigations into the matter.
Fifa has asked the NEC to furnish it and CAF with all the documents relating to the suspension of the three officials by May 1, 2026.
“We wish to inform you that Fifa, in coordination with the Confederation of African Football (CAF), is currently assessing this matter with a view to gaining a clear and accurate understanding of the circumstances surrounding the adoption of the resolution, as well as its compliance with the FKF Statutes,” Fifa said yesterday in a statement signed by its Chief Member Associations Officer Elkhan Mammadov and addressed to FKF NEC members.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed.
Photo credit: Lucy Wanjiru | Nation Media Group
“With regard to the information and elements that led to the attempt to adopt the resolution, this matter is being treated with due seriousness and attention. In this respect, CAF is currently assessing the case itself, including the underlying elements and circumstances,” the statement added.
The world football governing body said it seeks to establish whether the process leading to the suspension of the three officials was conducted in accordance with Articles 38, 40 and 41 of FKF.
These include clarification as to how the meeting at which the resolution to suspend the trio was convened, whether the applicable quorum and voting requirements were met, and if the affected officials were duly granted their statutory right to be heard prior to the adoption of the Resolution, as required under Article 41, paragraph 4 of the FKF Statutes.
Fifa also asked the NEC to provide a detailed written justification underlying the adoption of the resolution, together with copies of all documents, records, correspondence or other materials that were relied upon by the NEC in reaching its decision.
On Sunday, Mariga issued a statement in which he welcomed Fifa’s intervention, noting that it “fully aligns with governance best practices.” While he promised that FKF will fully comply with Fifa’s request over the matter, he maintained that the resolution to suspend the three officials remains. He stated that the affected officials will be accorded their rights to be heard in strict adherence to FKF Statutes and the provisions of the Kenyan Constitution. Mariga added that if the ongoing investigations clear anyone, the federation will reinstate them, while those who will be found culpable will be punished according to the law.
“We confirm that all documents and information requested are currently being compiled, verified and prepared for submission. FKF will comply fully within the stipulated timeline of 1 May 2026,” Mariga said in the statement.
Fifa President Gianni Infantino with Football Kenya Federation boss Hussein Mohammed.
Photo credit: Pool | Nation
He called for calm among the public, noting that the situation is under control and that the federation is functioning normally with “its obligation to the game uninterrupted.”
Fifa, Riskwell Insurance Brokers Limited, 2024 Africa Cup of Nations, Riskwell, Britam Insurance
The majority NEC members had on Friday signed a resolution suspending the trio following allegations that FKF irregularly wired $328,735 (Sh42.48 million) to Riskwell Insurance Brokers Limited for the procurement of the insurance cover for the 2024 Africa Cup of Nations (Chan).
The 19-nation tournament was co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania from August 2 to 30 last year.
Of concern is that FKF allegedly made the payment to Riskwell, yet the firm was not licensed to operate in the country.
Further, the firm was not among the companies which submitted quotations for the insurance cover, which is a requirement in CAF tournaments. Also, three firms which submitted quotations for the insurance cover, Takaful Insurance of Africa (Sh26,166,662), Old Mutual General Insurance Kenya Limited (Sh26,810,327) and Britam Insurance (Sh29,212,180), quoted amounts significantly lower than the Sh42.48 million allegedly paid to Riskwell.
It remains unclear whether the 2024 Chan had valid insurance cover as required by CAF. In taking the drastic measures, the majority NEC members cited Article 87 of the FKF Constitution. It states that: “The National Executive Committee shall have the power to decide on all cases of force majeure and on all matters not provided for in the Constitution, such decisions to be made according to right and justice, taking into account the relevant regulations of Fifa and CAF.”
Hussein, however, dismissed the resolution by the nine NEC members, arguing that the meeting was not convened in accordance with the FKF Constitution.
He cited Article 38 (2) of the FKF Constitution which states that the federation’s president shall convene NEC meetings.
The clause further provides that where at least 50 percent of the NEC request 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,” Hussein stated on Friday.
On Saturday, Hussein also denied involvement in the alleged fraud linked to Chan insurance, noting that it was CAF which procured the tournament’s insurance cover.
Hussein added that no public funds were lost as the federation did not spend any money on the policy.
Expressing their desire to conclude the assessment of the matter expeditiously, Fifa requested the cooperation of the FKF NEC members. The world football governing body said it seeks to establish whether the process leading to the suspension of the three officials was conducted in accordance with Articles 38, 40 and 41 of FKF.
These include clarification as to how the meeting at which the resolution to suspend the trio was convened, whether the applicable quorum and voting requirements were met, and if the affected officials were duly granted their statutory right to be heard prior to the adoption of the Resolution, as required under Article 41, paragraph 4 of the FKF Statutes.
Fifa also asked the NEC to provide a detailed written justification underlying the adoption of the resolution, together with copies of all documents, records, correspondence or other materials that were relied upon by the NEC in reaching its decision.
