FKF Expels McDonald Mariga and Six NEC Members Following Chaotic Special General Meeting in Meru

By Mwalimu Anthony K. Koech | Digital Times Cloud 
November 7, 2026

Chaos Erupts at FKF Special General Meeting in Meru

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has expelled Deputy President McDonald Mariga and six other National Executive Committee (NEC) members following a controversial Special General Meeting (SGM) held in Meru on Saturday, November 7, 2026.

The decision came after dramatic scenes at Three Steers Hotel, where police officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) fired tear gas into the meeting venue, disrupting proceedings and forcing delegates to leave the conference hall.

The meeting, which had been scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m., was convened to deliberate on the conduct of seven NEC members amid a prolonged leadership dispute within the country's football governing body.

According to reports from the venue, tensions had escalated before the meeting commenced, with groups of youths reportedly gathering around the hotel and some delegates experiencing difficulties accessing the premises.

FKF subsequently expressed concern over the police intervention, describing the disruption as interference with a constitutional process initiated by members of its General Assembly.

McDonald Mariga and Six Officials Expelled

Following the meeting, FKF announced that the General Assembly had resolved to expel seven NEC members over alleged serious and repeated violations of the federation's Constitution and applicable FIFA regulations.

The affected officials are:

1. McDonald Mariga – FKF Deputy President.
2. Robert Kenneth Macharia – Central NEC representative.
3. Bernard Korir Lagat – Upper Rift Valley representative.
4. Violet Kerubo Momanyi – Women's representative.
5. Collins Opiyo Kalee – Nyanza representative.
6. Gabriel Mghendi – Coast representative.
7. Daniel Akala Shikanda – Nairobi representative.

In its official communication, FKF stated that the seven officials had been expelled following resolutions passed during the Special General Meeting.

The federation further indicated that the officials remained subject to additional sanctions by the judicial bodies of FKF, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and FIFA.

The decision marks a significant development in the federation's internal leadership dispute.

What Triggered the FKF Leadership Crisis?

The dispute intensified on April 24, 2026, when a faction of NEC members led by Mariga passed resolutions seeking to suspend FKF President Hussein Mohammed, Acting General Secretary Dennis Gicheru and nominated NEC member Abdullahi Yusuf Ibrahim.

The faction raised concerns over an insurance transaction valued at approximately KSh 42.48 million relating to the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which Kenya co-hosted alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

The move triggered a leadership confrontation, with Mariga's faction seeking changes in the federation's leadership pending investigations into the allegations.

However, the resolutions were subsequently challenged through legal and football-governance channels.

The Sports Disputes Tribunal and the High Court issued orders restraining the implementation of the contested resolutions, while FIFA raised concerns about whether the process had complied with the FKF Constitution.

Hussein Mohammed consequently remained at the helm of the federation as the dispute continued.

Police Intervention Raises Questions Over Football Governance

The events in Meru have also raised concerns about the security and independence of football administration in Kenya.

The deployment of police officers and the use of tear gas inside the meeting venue disrupted a gathering that was intended to address internal governance matters.

FKF expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the RDU operation, particularly the discharge of tear gas into the room where delegates were waiting for the proceedings to begin.

Meanwhile, Mariga had alleged that delegates allied to him were attacked with stones and prevented from accessing the meeting venue.

The circumstances surrounding these competing accounts and the police intervention remain important matters requiring further clarification.

Implications for Kenyan Football and AFCON 2027

The latest developments come at a critical period for Kenyan football as the country prepares to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) alongside Uganda and Tanzania.

The prolonged leadership dispute has raised questions about institutional stability, administrative coordination and the federation's ability to maintain effective football management.

The expulsion of seven NEC members could reshape the federation's internal leadership structure and influence future administrative decisions.

However, the possibility of further legal or football-governance challenges means that the long-term implications of the resolutions remain uncertain.

What Happens Next?

The expulsion of Mariga and the six other officials represents a major turning point in the FKF leadership dispute.

Attention now shifts to the implementation of the General Assembly's resolutions, possible responses from the affected officials and any subsequent decisions by FKF's judicial bodies, FIFA and CAF.

As Kenya approaches the 2027 AFCON tournament, stakeholders will be watching closely to see whether the latest developments bring greater institutional stability or introduce another chapter in the federation's prolonged leadership crisis.

For now, the events in Meru have placed the governance of Kenyan football firmly in the national spotlight.