Football Kenya Federation has moved to dispel reports that it has already appointed replacements for seven National Executive Committee positions left vacant following Saturday’s controversial Special General Meeting in Meru.
FKF on Monday issued a statement insisting that no individuals had been appointed to occupy the positions previously held by Vice-President McDonald Mariga and six other NEC members expelled during the meeting.
The federation said reports circulating that replacements had already been selected, including a new vice-president, were false.
“Contrary to reports and claims doing the rounds, no appointments have been made to fill the vacant positions, including that of the Vice President,” FKF said in the statement dated November 9, 2026.
The clarification comes two days after the federation’s General Assembly voted to remove Mariga alongside Robert Kenneth Macharia, Bernard Korir Lagat, Violet Kerubo Momanyi, Collins Opiyo Kalee, Gabriel Mghendi and Daniel Akala Shikanda.
FKF said the seven were dismissed after delegates considered allegations of serious and repeated violations of the federation’s Constitution and applicable FIFA regulations.
Among the issues cited by the federation was a purported April 24 NEC resolution seeking the removal of President Hussein Mohammed and other officials, alleged failure by some of the officials to attend duly convened NEC meetings and unauthorised communication on behalf of the federation.
The expulsions were approved by overwhelming margins, with Mariga, Macharia, Mghendi and Shikanda each receiving 65 votes against one, while Kalee, Lagat and Kerubo received 64 votes against two.
But the manner in which the purge was conducted has immediately become the centre of a fresh dispute.
The expelled officials have rejected the resolutions, arguing that they were denied entry to the meeting and therefore had no opportunity to defend themselves.
Mariga has subsequently challenged the proceedings, alleging that seven NEC officials and 32 accredited Congress delegates were prevented from accessing the venue. He has also questioned the voting procedure, arguing that Article 41 of the FKF Constitution requires a dismissal motion to be decided through a secret ballot.
That dispute could prove more consequential than the actual vote.
The federation maintains that the General Assembly exercised its powers under Articles 16 and 24 of the FKF Constitution, provisions it says empower the Assembly to expel members and dismiss NEC officials. Representatives from FIFA, CAF, the Sports Registrar and the State Department for Sports were also present in Meru.
However, the presence of international football officials does not automatically settle questions surrounding the legality of the process. The central issue remains whether the constitutional powers cited by FKF were exercised in accordance with the procedural safeguards contained in the federation’s own statutes.
Visible controversy
The controversy was already visible before the votes were taken.
Saturday’s SGM was preceded by disorder at the Three Steers Hotel, with police deploying to secure the venue amid reports of large groups of youths and clashes involving rival factions. Tear gas was reportedly used as officers attempted to clear parts of the premises and facilitate access to the meeting.
The scenes surrounding the meeting have therefore added another layer to an already bitter leadership dispute that has divided the federation for months.
The latest FKF statement appears aimed at stopping another potential controversy before it begins.
Rather than announcing an immediate reshuffle, the federation says vacancies will be handled through its established constitutional procedures.
“The federation has well-established constitutional procedures and processes that guide its operations, including the filling of vacant leadership positions,” FKF said.
It added that any decisions on the vacant offices would be made in accordance with the FKF Constitution and applicable regulations and communicated through official federation channels.
The clarification is particularly significant because the vice-presidency is one of the most politically sensitive positions within FKF. Mariga occupied the position alongside President Hussein Mohammed after the 2024 elections, before relations between sections of the NEC deteriorated dramatically.
The latest purge follows an earlier attempt by a section of the NEC to remove Mohammed and other officials in April. That attempted leadership change became one of the central issues considered during Saturday’s SGM.
FKF now finds itself with seven NEC positions vacant while the expelled officials insist that they have not been lawfully removed.
That creates the possibility of another confrontation over the federation’s leadership structure, particularly if the affected officials pursue the dispute before the Sports Disputes Tribunal or other football judicial bodies.
For now, FKF says there will be no immediate appointments.
The federation has also pushed back against criticism of its handling of the crisis, urging journalists to verify information before publishing reports.
It accused some actors of spreading misinformation and propaganda, saying such conduct was detrimental to Kenyan football.
“FKF also reminds members of the Fourth Estate of their responsibility to uphold professional standards, verify information and ensure accuracy before sharing it with the public,” the federation said.
The federation concluded by reaffirming its commitment to “transparency, accountability and due process” in carrying out its mandate.
That promise will now be tested by what happens next.
With seven elected officials removed, the affected camp disputing the legality of the SGM and the federation refusing to disclose any immediate replacements, FKF’s leadership crisis is far from over.
Instead, Monday’s clarification has opened a new chapter: who will eventually fill the seven vacant positions, under what procedure, and whether the expulsions themselves survive the constitutional and legal challenges that are expected to follow.
