Police teargas delegates as FKF meeting descends into chaos in Meru

The Football Kenya Federation Special General Meeting (SGM), set to take place Saturday morning at Three Steers Hotel in Meru, descended into chaos when police lobbed tear gas into the meeting hall to disperse delegates.

The SGM failed to start at 9am as planned after the police, who were seen accompanying FKF vice president McDonald Mariga, ordered everyone inside the hall to move outside, before firing tear gas to disperse the delegates.  The police also ejected guests from their hotel rooms.

However, the delegates insisted on proceeding with the meeting and remained within the hotel premises.

The SGM agenda is to deliberate on the resolutions made on April 24, 2026, by the FKF National Executive Committee (NEC), their implications for the federation’s operations, the conduct of the seven rebel NEC members led by Mariga, and the way forward and proposed resolutions.

Other NEC members whose conduct was to be discussed included Kerubo Momanyi (Women Representative), Gabriel Mghendi (Coast), Dan Shikanda (Nairobi), Collins Opiyo Kalee (Nyanza), Robert Macharia (Central), and Bernard Lagat (Upper Rift Valley).

When Nation Sport made its way inside the venue of the meeting at around 7:30 am, tension was already running high, with several youths gathered outside the hotel gate.

Hundreds of armed police officers were stationed inside the hotel for security.

The delegates were thoroughly screened before being allowed inside the premises.

Mariga arrived at the hotel in a police car escorted by several armed police officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit.

But just as delegates were settling for the meeting, the police accompanying Mariga ordered everyone outside the hall. Moments later, the delegates returned to the hall, insisting that the SGM proceed, and that is when all hell broke loose.

The police officers lobbed more rounds of tear gas while threatening to clobber the delegates. They also ejected guests from their rooms. At one time, FKF president Hussein Mohammed appeared at the hotel’s lawn, but the police fired tear gas, forcing him and other delegates to scamper for safety.

As of 10am, the meeting had yet to commence, with the delegates gathered in small groups at the lawn area and restaurant.

The bitter fallout in the FKF NEC was triggered by a decision by the Mariga-led faction to pass a resolution on April 24, suspending Hussein, acting General Secretary Dennis Gicheru and nominated NEC member Abdullahi Yusuf over allegations of a Sh42.48 million insurance fraud concerning the 2024 African Nations Championship.

The Sport Disputes Tribunal (SDT) and the High Court later issued injunctions against the resolutions by the Mariga-led faction until a case filed by the federation is heard and determined.

Fifa also advised that the action taken by the Mariga faction had not followed due process.

Despite calls, including from Fifa, for unity within the federation, the wrangles have persisted, affecting football operations in the country.

For instance, several NEC meetings have failed to take place due to the failure of the Mariga-led faction to attend.

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