On October 11, 2024, businessman Hussein Mohammed made a major announcement that would reshape the race for the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidency.
Hussein unveiled Kenya’s most decorated footballer, McDonald Mariga, as his running mate for the top seat, two months before the elections.
Having been a footballer, Mariga was considered a major asset to ‘Team Fresh’ since many delegates could identify with him.
Mariga also heaped praise on Hussein’s candidature and promised that their administration would give priority to players’ interests. “If you give us this chance and I am certain that we are winning on December 7, we will treat every player with respect,” promised Mariga.
Many observers considered this partnership a game changer.
Football Kenya Federation President Hussein Mohammed addresses delegates during the federation's Special General Meeting at Three Steers Hotel, Meru on November 7, 2025.
Photo credit: Pool
But no sooner had ‘Team Fresh’ settled into office than cracks began to emerge.
Sixty-six of the 92 FKF delegates attended the SGM, whose start was delayed by chaos after police lobbed tear gas in the meeting hall and dispersed the football officials. Of the 66 delegates who graced the meeting, 65 voted in favour of the expulsion of Mariga, Macharia and Mghendi.
The SGM also recommended that further disciplinary action be taken against them at the judicial bodies of FKF, CAF and Fifa.
By July 2025, the speculation about the deteriorating relationship between the duo had intensified, with claims that Hussein had appointed nominated NEC members Abdullahi Yusuf to take over Mariga’s responsibilities.
Football Kenya Federation President Hussein Mohammed (centre), acting CEO Dennis Gicheru (second right) during the federation's Special General Meeting at Three Steers Hotel, Meru on November 7, 2025.
Photo credit: Pool
While Mariga never publicly responded to the speculations, Hussein insisted that all was well between them.
On April 24, 2026, Mariga and eight other NEC members somehow met in the absence of Hussein and passed several resolutions, including the suspension of the FKF president, acting General Secretary Dennis Gicheru and Yusuf over allegations of a Sh42.48 million 2024 African Nations Championship insurance fraud.
The eight NEC members appointed Mariga as the federation’s acting president pending the conclusion of investigations into the matter.
Fifa also found that the trio were not properly suspended.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) vice president McDonald Mariga when he appeared before the National Assembly Departmental Committee on Sports and Culture at Bunge Tower in Nairobi on May 5, 2026.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
“Things started going wrong at the first NEC meeting held in January 2025. Mariga wanted to be the president and had the intention of pushing me aside. I don’t regret what has happened to him,” said the FKF president. He claimed that Mariga wanted to take charge of virtually every aspect of the federation’s operations.
“He wanted to control the national teams, the leagues, management and even sponsorship. He wanted everything to revolve around him. I was elected president, and he was my deputy, so why would I allow that? Mariga travelled in almost all trips with the national teams, some of which I even financed from my own pocket,” said Hussein.
“He wanted to sit in every committee to serve his interests. Recently, he claimed he was not being paid a salary.
He further claimed that Mariga was unhappy with the appointment of Harold Ndege as FKF General Secretary /Chief Executive Officer, alleging that the former deputy had preferred another candidate for the position.
Hussein, however, suggested that recent developments indicated Mariga and Ndege had since reconciled and were now working together against him.
Mariga’s faction stayed away from seven NEC meetings, thus hampering the operations of the federation.
“We have played our role of oversight. The fight here is not about Mariga, Mghendi, Kerubo or Shikanda but about good governance,” he said in Meru.
Hussein said there will be significant changes in how the federation executed its vision.
