World football governing body FIFA has formally stepped into the escalating leadership wrangles at the Football Kenya Federation, opening an assessment process in coordination with the Confederation of African Football following a controversial resolution that sent top federation officials home.
In a letter dated 26 April 2026, addressed to members of the FKF National Executive Committee, FIFA confirmed it is reviewing the circumstances surrounding a resolution adopted around 24 April requiring FKF President Hussein Rashid Mohammed, NEC member Abdullahi Yusuf Ibrahim and Acting General Secretary Dennis Gicheru to step aside on a provisional basis.The intervention places Kenya football leadership under intense global scrutiny, with both FIFA and CAF seeking clarity on whether proper constitutional procedures were followed in making the decision.
Hussein Mohammed has strongly disputed the legitimacy of the meeting that led to his suspension, maintaining it was not conducted in accordance with the FKF Constitution.
He said the purported meeting held on 24 April 2026 was not convened in accordance with the FKF Constitution and is therefore irregular, unlawful and unconstitutional, adding that any decisions arising from it are null and void.
He emphasized that he neither sanctioned the meeting nor received any formal request from NEC members to convene one, raising further questions about adherence to due process.
Governance concerns
The dispute follows a decision by a majority of NEC members to suspend Mohammed over alleged misappropriation of approximately KSh42 million linked to CHAN related funds.
According to the committee, the move was prompted by what it described as serious breaches of both the FKF constitution and Kenyan law, including allegations of financial impropriety, theft of public funds, irregular procurement processes and conflict of interest.
The committee resolved that Mohammed step aside immediately to pave the way for investigations by relevant authorities, with Abdullahi Yusuf Ibrahim and Dennis Gicheru also directed to relinquish their roles pending the outcome of the probe.
In the interim, FKF Deputy President Macdonald Mariga Wanyama has been appointed to take charge of the federation in an acting capacity, overseeing operations as investigations and a proposed forensic audit are conducted.
The NEC further ordered the freezing of FKF bank accounts associated with the president in his fiduciary capacity and called for an independent forensic audit into funds received from stakeholders, including CAF, FIFA and the Ministry of Sports.
While the committee insists its actions are necessary to restore public confidence and safeguard evidence, FIFA involvement signals potential consequences if statutes were breached.
FIFA and CAF have emphasized that established dispute resolution mechanisms exist, including their judicial bodies and ethics committees, to handle such matters without undermining governance structures.
The situation has raised concerns about possible sanctions, which could include suspension from international competitions if Kenya is found to have violated FIFA statutes, a move that would have far reaching implications for players, clubs and development programs.
Stakeholders across Kenyan football are closely monitoring the developments as FIFA and CAF continue their joint assessment, with the outcome expected to determine the legitimacy of the NEC actions.
The crisis remains one of the most serious governance challenges facing Kenyan football in recent years.
