FKF Leadership Dispute Deepens After Court Declines to Halt Mariga’s Expulsion

A court has declined to suspend Football Kenya Federation resolutions expelling vice-president McDonald Mariga and six other officials.

The decision leaves the November 7 resolutions in place for now. It does not amount to a final determination that the expulsions were lawful.

The FKF General Assembly voted to expel Mariga and six National Executive Committee members during a Special General Meeting in Meru. The federation cited alleged serious and repeated breaches of its constitution and applicable FIFA regulations.

The other affected officials are Robert Kenneth Macharia, Bernard Korir Lagat, Violet Kerubo Momanyi, Collins Opiyo Kalee, Gabriel Mghendi and Daniel Akala Shikanda. FKF said the assembly acted under constitutional provisions governing membership and removal of officials.

Mariga and the six officials have rejected the decision. In a November 9 statement, they argued that the meeting was improperly conducted and denied them the right to be heard.

They also alleged that 32 accredited delegates were locked out of the venue. The group questioned the use of acclamation instead of a secret ballot, saying Article 41 requires a secret ballot and a two-thirds majority.

FKF has maintained that the General Assembly exercised its authority. The competing accounts leave the meeting’s procedure and validity of the expulsions at the centre of the dispute.

The court application was brought by sports stakeholder Patrick Kinyua, who sought orders preserving the position before the Meru meeting. He also wanted FKF restrained from taking further unilateral steps that could deepen its divisions.

The dispute follows months of conflict between FKF president Hussein Mohammed and Mariga’s faction. FIFA had earlier questioned the procedure used to convene a separate NEC meeting called by Mariga.

The leadership wrangle has raised concerns about FKF administration, national team preparations and Kenya’s role in co-hosting the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. These concerns featured in the petitioner’s arguments, not as findings made by the court.

The latest decision is an interim development, not the end of the legal contest. Further proceedings will address constitutional questions surrounding the November 7 meeting.

Should FKF and the affected officials pursue a negotiated settlement, or should the courts determine the dispute?

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