Seven Ousted FKF Officials Reveal What They Want FIFA to Do Amid Growing Football Crisis

Seven ousted Football Kenya Federation (FKF) National Executive Committee (NEC) officials have called for the formation of a FIFA-backed normalisation committee, arguing that an independent intervention could help address the growing leadership crisis in Kenyan football.

The seven officials, who are embroiled in a governance dispute with FKF president Hussein Mohammed and his administration, say they are willing to support the intervention if it guarantees accountability, transparency and proper management of football resources.

They maintain that their disagreement with the federation’s leadership is not about personal ambitions or positions but concerns the way the organisation is being run.

One of the officials said they would welcome a normalisation committee if it meant protecting football funds and ensuring that both the Kenyan government and FIFA had confidence in the federation’s operations.

“We are ready for that. If it takes for us to save the football money in this country through a normalisation committee, the seven of us are ready for that,” the official stated.

The proposal comes amid escalating tensions following a controversial FKF Special General Meeting (SGM), which has become a major point of disagreement between the officials and the federation’s leadership.

The aggrieved officials claim they were prevented from accessing the meeting venue despite arriving early, denying them an opportunity to respond to allegations made against them.

According to former AFC Leopards chairman Dan Shikanda, six of the seven officials were unable to enter the venue.

He alleged that they attempted to access the meeting from 7am but encountered resistance, including stone-throwing, forcing their driver to leave the area.

“Only Vice President McDonald Mariga made it to the venue, but only through the intervention or help from the police’s Rapid Deployment Unit. He was the only one who could access the venue. All six of us were unable to access it. So we never reached the floor to defend ourselves,” Shikanda explained.

The former football administrator questioned the fairness of the proceedings, arguing that anyone facing allegations should be given an opportunity to respond before disciplinary decisions are made.

He insisted that the officials were prepared to face the delegates and defend themselves against the accusations.

Shikanda also questioned the composition of the FKF Congress, alleging that some individuals presented as legitimate members did not meet the required criteria.

He specifically disputed claims that the 66 individuals cited as members constituted a properly constituted Congress.

The officials further raised concerns about changes involving football administration representatives, with Shikanda claiming that the chairman of Nairobi East Branch had been replaced by a referee from Bungoma.

He questioned how such decisions could affect the credibility of football administration and officiating in the country.

The seven officials argue that the federation should operate through established governance procedures rather than decisions made by a small group of leaders.

They also accused the current administration of expecting NEC members to approve transactions without sufficient scrutiny.

“Our fight is just governance. Governance, governance, governance. It’s not about Mariga. It’s not about Shikanda. It’s not about Macharia. It’s not about Kerubo. It’s not about Mugendi. It’s not about Kalee. It’s not about Lagat. It is about governance,” one of the officials declared.

The official added that they would not endorse transactions they considered questionable simply because they were presented for approval by the federation’s leadership.

The dispute has also brought FIFA’s previous concerns about disciplinary procedures back into the spotlight.

Shikanda referred to an earlier FIFA intervention in which FKF officials were reportedly criticised for failing to give Hussein Mohammed and Abdallah Yusuf an opportunity to defend themselves.

He argued that the current leadership should apply the same principles of fairness when dealing with officials facing allegations.

“The other day FIFA told us we didn’t give Hussein Mohammed and Abdallah Yusuf a chance to defend themselves. So he should not be coming to do the same to us, thinking that we don’t know our rights. We know our rights, and we know what to do,” he said.

The officials have warned that they will not remain silent if they believe football resources are being mismanaged.

They maintain that their involvement in the dispute is driven by their desire to protect Kenyan football and restore confidence in the federation.

The proposed normalisation committee is therefore emerging as one of the solutions being advanced by the seven officials to address the leadership wrangles.

However, the proposal remains their position, and its implementation would depend on the relevant football authorities and FIFA’s decisions.

For now, the dispute between the officials and Hussein Mohammed’s administration remains unresolved, with governance, accountability and the management of federation affairs at the centre of the disagreement.

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