In a dramatic shake-up that has sent shockwave through the local sports fraternity, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) National Executive Committee (NEC) has suspended its President, Hussein Rashid Mohammed, over a multi-million shilling financial scandal.
The decision, reached during a high-stakes meeting on Friday, April 24, also saw the suspension of Acting Chief Executive Officer Dennis Gicheru and nominated NEC member Abdullahi Yussuf Ibrahim. The trio has been ordered to step aside immediately to pave the way for a forensic audit and comprehensive investigations into the alleged misappropriation of Sh42.48 million.
The heart of the scandal centers on the procurement of insurance cover for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN). Investigations and internal reports suggest that the Sh42.48 million contract was awarded to a recently registered brokerage firm that allegedly lacked the necessary licenses to operate.
According to NEC members, the federation bypassed more competitive offers from reputable, well-established insurers who had submitted bids as low as Sh29 million. The NEC’s resolution cited serious breaches of the FKF Constitution, the Public Procurement and Asset Disposal Act, and the Public Finance Management Act, noting that non-competitive procurement and a blatant conflict of interest demanded full accountability.
In the wake of the suspensions, the NEC has appointed Deputy President and former Harambee Stars midfield maestro McDonald Mariga Wanyama to serve as the Acting President. Mariga, whose appointment is effective immediately, has been tasked with stabilizing the federation and ensuring that daily operations continue without further disruption. Mariga’s first order of business involves convening an urgent NEC meeting to put the FKF house in order. Additionally, the committee has moved to freeze all FKF bank accounts where Hussein Mohammed is a signatory to safeguard the remaining public and federation resources.
Furthermore, the NEC has formally reached out to the global football governing body FIFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and the Ministry of Sports, requesting the appointment of independent forensic auditors.
This move is seen as an attempt to restore credibility to the federation, which has long been dogged by allegations of financial mismanagement. Nine out of the fourteen NEC members signed the resolution, claiming they had been systematically excluded and sidelined from decision-making processes under Mohammed’s tenure.
As of Friday evening, Hussein Mohammed had not issued a formal rebuttal to the specific charges, though he has previously defended his administration’s integrity during grassroots football launches. With the 2026 World Cup qualifiers and other regional tournaments on the horizon, the pressure is now on Mariga to steer the ship through one of the most turbulent periods in Kenyan football history. The primary suspensions include President Hussein Rashid Mohammed, Acting CEO Dennis Gicheru, and NEC member Abdullahi Yussuf Ibrahim, all of whom remain sidelined pending the outcome of the investigation.
