Football Kenya Federation president Hussein Mohammed (left) together with FKF Chief Executive Officer Harold Ndege at a past event.
Harold Ndege’s tenure as the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) General Secretary-Chief Executive Officer (CEO) appears to be on borrowed time, even as he desperately fights for his survival.
Less than a year in office, Ndege, a former Kenyan Premier League player, has decidedly fallen out with his boss, FKF president Hussein Mohammed.
Hussein was elected president on December 7, 2024 and Ndege was named the CEO on February 14 last year.
Staunch allies at the beginning, the two are no longer seeing eye to eye, with Hussein seeking Ndege’s removal.
Ndege obtained an injunction from the Employment and Labour Relations Court of Kenya in Nairobi on January 9, stopping any federation process to eject him from the organisation.
“In the interim, an order is hereby issued restraining the responded (FKF), its president, NEC, committees, agents or servants from deliberating on, acting upon or implementing the notice to show cause dated 31 December 2025 and/or the agenda item scheduled for the 15 January 2026, pending hearing and determination of the application,” ordered Lady Justice Agnes M.K. Nzei.
The case will be heard on January 27.
Ndege has since filed contempt charges after the disciplinary committee, chaired by FKF vice president McDonald Mariga, went ahead with deliberations on the subject of his work at the federation on January 9 at Kandada House.
Improper discharge of duties
Before the Employment and Labour Relations Court barred the NEC from discussing Ndege’s ouster, Hussein had called for a NEC meeting on Thursday to deliberate on the removal of the former Harambee Stars and Tusker defender.
“Recommendation and proposal by the President on the position of the General Secretary in accordance with the provisions of Article 42 (4) as read together with Article 63 (5) of the Football Kenya Federation Constitution 2017,” read part of the notice Hussein sent to NEC members.
In the show cause notice that Hussein sent to Ndege on December 31, the federation boss cited 21 reasons for seeking his removal from office.
Football Kenya Federation president Hussein Mohammed (left) and FKF Chief Executive Officer Harold Ndege.
They include: failure to notify the FKF president over a parliamentary committee invitation, poor planning in the appointment of the under-17 technical bench, under-15 national team management, 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.
Others reasons cited are: laxity in operationalizing the Memorandum of Understanding between FKF and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, failure to follow through on Harambee Stars kit design competition, systematic breakdown in internal and stakeholder communication, poor planning and execution of the federation’s events, and lack of Kenya’s representation in Cecafa Technical Committees.
Ndege’s fate appeared sealed before he rushed to court after Hussein had declared that he could no longer work with him.
Speaking to Nation Sport, the FKF president declared he was ready to pay any price for his decision to cut links with the CEO.
“I don’t want to engage him. For things to move, he must leave because we can no longer work together. He has to go,” vowed Hussein, who has held a series of meetings with delegates from Nyanza region to marshal support for Ndege’s removal.
“I have tried to shield him but he has not changed, and we have been at loggerheads over many issues at the federation. He doesn’t want to take responsibility even for the mismanagement of the preparations of national teams.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohamed addresses the national Girls Under 17 players at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani in Nairobi on April 22, 2025.
“Even on issues which require my attention, he has been going behind my back and taking action without involving me, some concerning finances,” added Hussein.
Meanwhile, Ndege said he has responded to the show course notice without giving details.
“I have demanded evidence. I can’t divulge much, but every issue raised has a response,” he said.
Internal conflict resolution
Ndege also said it was unprofessional for Hussein’s camp to share with bloggers the show cause notice sent to him. He vowed to do everything possible to remain in office.
Asked about claims he wants to run the federation like a one-man show and whether he had exhausted all the federation’s internal conflict resolution in the matter, Hussein said: “The GS matter is now in court and I do not wish to discuss it further. I ran on the pillars of integrity, transparency and accountability. I intend to stay true to my manifesto and promise to achieve our collective vision of making Kenya a great footballing Nation."
Football Kenya Federation president Hussein Mohammed (centre) flanked by vice president McDonald Mariga, CEO Harold Ndege and Acakoro Football Academy and School Director Lukas Mott, with national teams coaches and officials after the signing of an agreement with Acakoro Academy in Nairobi on December 9, 2025.
“If we are to compete with the best in the world, we must decisively and fearlessly deal with incompetence, mediocrity, corruption and ineptitude in the administration of football. For too long we have normalised low standards. This must stop.”
Born and raised in Nairobi’s Kariobangi Estate, Ndege earned six caps for Kenya’s national men’s football team.
The former defender won two Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF-PL) titles and two Cecafa Club Championships with Tusker.
Football Kenya Federation Chief Executive Officer Harold Ndege during a function in Nairobi on June 12, 2025.
Under the tutelage of coach Jacob 'Ghost' Mulee, he signed his first contract with Tusker in 1999, the same year the brewers lifted the FKF-PL title which they successfully defended in 2000.
With Mulee, Tusker won the Cecafa Club Championship in 2000 and 2001.
Ndege turned out for India’s top flight side Vascos Sports Club in Goa during his studies in the south Asian country. He hung his boots in 2005 to concentrate on his studies.
Ndege holds a Master’s degree in finance from the Institute of Chartered Financial Analysts of India and a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Karnataka University in India.
