Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed has survived a bold attempt to remove him from office after world football governing body FIFA declared his suspension unconstitutional and refused to recognise it.
In a letter dated May 25, 2026, FIFA Chief Member Associations Officer Elkhan Mammadov informed FKF’s National Executive Committee (NEC) that the suspension of Mohammed, Acting General Secretary Dennis Gicheru, and nominated NEC member Abdullahi Yusuf Ibrahim had not been carried out in line with the FKF Constitution.
“FIFA therefore categorically rejects the procedure that has been followed in this matter,” Mammadov stated.
The ruling deals a significant blow to a faction within the NEC led by FKF Deputy President McDonald Mariga, which on April 24, 2026, voted nine to five to compel the three officials to step aside. The move was tied to allegations of financial impropriety surrounding the procurement of insurance worth Sh42.8 million for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN). The insurance contract had allegedly been awarded to a company — Riskwell Insurance Broker — that was only formed on the day the tournament kicked off, raising serious procurement concerns.
FIFA, however, ruled that the NEC failed to follow the due process requirements set out under Article 41 of the FKF Constitution, which governs how officials can be provisionally suspended. These requirements include issuing proper notice, placing the matter on the meeting agenda, meeting quorum and voting thresholds, and — critically — giving the affected officials a fair chance to respond to the allegations before any action is taken.
“These requirements are neither discretionary nor optional; they constitute fundamental guarantees of due process, legality and institutional integrity and cannot be set aside by reference to alternative practices or extraordinary considerations,” FIFA stated.
The global body further warned that any NEC members found to have acted in breach of the FKF Constitution could face disciplinary consequences through the federation’s judicial bodies.
The saga had already drawn in Kenya’s Sports Disputes Tribunal, which issued temporary orders halting the suspension’s implementation, and the High Court in Kiambu, which issued a conservatory order protecting the three officials as FIFA reviewed the matter.
Hussein Mohammed has consistently denied the allegations, maintaining that no CHAN funds were lost and that the insurance procurement followed CAF regulations.
FKF welcomed FIFA’s ruling, reaffirming its commitment to constitutional governance. “FKF remains fully operational and committed to upholding the principles of good governance, constitutional order, transparency, and institutional integrity in the management of football in Kenya,” the federation said.
With AFCON 2027 co-hosting duties looming, FIFA urged all FKF officials to exercise restraint — making it clear that stability, not infighting, must define Kenyan football’s next chapter.
