The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Special General Meeting (SGM) in Meru was thrown into disarray on Saturday, November 7, 2026, after officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) entered the venue and discharged teargas into the meeting room as delegates waited for proceedings to begin.
The meeting, scheduled for 9:00 am at Three Steers Hotel, had not commenced by late morning following the security operation, which disrupted a gathering convened by members of the FKF General Assembly to deliberate on the federation’s leadership crisis.
FKF subsequently issued a statement expressing concern over the circumstances surrounding the police operation and its interference with the meeting.
“The FKF Special General Meeting (SGM) is yet to commence following an incident in which officers from the Police Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) moved into the meeting venue and discharged teargas into the meeting room, where delegates were seated awaiting the start of proceedings,” the federation said.
FKF said the incident had disrupted what it described as a constitutional process being undertaken by members of the General Assembly under the federation’s constitution.
“FKF is concerned by the circumstances surrounding the RDU operation and the resulting interference with the meeting,” the statement added.
The federation did not explain what triggered the RDU intervention, saying only that it would provide further updates as the situation developed.
Mariga arrives under heavy security
The operation came against a backdrop of heightened tension at the hotel, with groups of youths reportedly gathering around the venue and some individuals allegedly occupying sections of the premises.
FKF Vice President McDonald Mariga arrived at the hotel under heavy RDU security as attempts were made to secure access to the meeting venue. Footage from the scene showed the former Harambee Stars midfielder being escorted into the building by armed officers.
Mariga had earlier alleged that delegates allied to him had been prevented from entering the venue after being chased away and pelted with stones.
“Some chairmen and delegates are locked outside, goons have chased the away, so I have to bring them here,” Mariga said, according to footage from the scene.
The allegations could not immediately be independently verified.
The situation subsequently escalated, with police using teargas as they moved to disperse people around the hotel and clear the premises. Reports also indicated that some delegates struggled to gain access to the meeting, raising questions over whether all accredited members would be able to participate.
Meeting aimed at addressing April crisis
The disorder in Meru comes at the end of months of bitter disagreement within FKF, pitting President Hussein Mohammed against his deputy Mariga and other members of the federation’s National Executive Committee.
The SGM was specifically convened to deliberate on resolutions passed by NEC members on April 24, 2026, their implications for FKF’s operations and the conduct of seven NEC officials.
Those listed for consideration are Mariga, Women Representative Kerubo Momanyi, Coast NEC member Gabriel Mghendi, Nairobi NEC member Dan Shikanda, Nyanza NEC member Collins Opiyo Kalee, Central NEC member Robert Macharia and Upper Rift Valley NEC member Bernard Lagat.
A two-thirds majority of delegates present is required to remove an NEC member.
April ‘coup’ at the centre of dispute
The roots of the Meru confrontation can be traced to April 24, when a faction of the FKF NEC passed resolutions seeking to suspend Hussein, Acting General Secretary Dennis Gicheru and nominated NEC member Abdullahi Yusuf Ibrahim.
The faction cited concerns surrounding a Ksh42.48 million insurance transaction linked to the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which Kenya co-hosted with Uganda and Tanzania.
Mariga was subsequently installed as acting president by the faction, effectively creating a rival power centre within FKF.
The attempted leadership change was challenged before the Sports Disputes Tribunal, which blocked implementation of the April 2026 resolutions. FIFA also rejected the suspensions, citing concerns that the process had not complied with the FKF Constitution.
Hussein therefore remained in office, but the April confrontation left the federation deeply divided.
FIFA, CAF watching
The significance of Saturday’s meeting has been heightened by the presence of international and government observers.
FKF had announced that FIFA, CAF and government representatives would attend the SGM. The federation’s notice listed FIFA Senior MA Governance Service Manager Bruno Comicholi, FIFA Regional Office head David Ndayisenga and CAF Legal Manager Nnaemeka A. Olu among the observers. Acting Sports Registrar Chacha J. Maroa was also expected to attend alongside officials from the State Department for Sports.
The meeting was convened under Article 31(2) of the FKF Constitution, according to the federation’s notice.
The failure of the SGM to start as planned therefore creates a fresh complication for an organisation already facing a prolonged leadership dispute.
For now, FKF has not announced when proceedings will resume or whether the meeting will be moved to another venue.
What was supposed to be a constitutional forum for resolving the federation’s leadership crisis has instead become another dramatic confrontation in the Hussein-Mariga power struggle, with teargas, police intervention and allegations of attacks on delegates dominating proceedings before a single resolution could be considered.
