NAIROBI, Kenya — Global and continental football bodies have stepped into the escalating crisis at the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) launching parallel reviews following the suspension of top federation officials.
The turmoil erupted after FKF’s National Executive Committee (NEC) voted on April 24 to suspend President Hussein Mohammed, alongside nominated member Abdullahi Yussuf Ibrahim and acting Secretary General Dennis Gicheru.
In announcing the decision, the NEC said the suspensions were meant to allow for investigations into alleged financial misconduct involving public funds, as well as possible regulatory violations. At the centre of the dispute are claims that Sh42 million earmarked for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN) may have been misappropriated.
In a statement issued on Sunday, April 26, FIFA confirmed it is closely monitoring the situation and has opened its own inquiry in coordination with CAF. The global body said it is seeking to establish whether FKF followed its internal statutes in convening the meeting and executing the suspensions.
“We are currently assessing this matter with a view to gaining a clear and accurate understanding of the circumstances surrounding the adoption of the resolution, as well as its compliance with the FKF statutes,” FIFA said in a formal communication to the NEC.
Central to FIFA’s probe is whether the federation adhered to procedural requirements outlined in its statutes, including Articles 38, 40, and 41, which govern meetings, quorum, and disciplinary processes. The body has requested detailed documentation from FKF to verify whether due process was followed.
Among the issues under scrutiny is whether the NEC meeting that resolved to suspend the officials was properly convened, whether quorum and voting thresholds were met, and whether the affected individuals were granted their right to be heard before the decision was taken.
FIFA has also demanded a comprehensive written justification for the suspensions, alongside all supporting records, correspondence, and materials relied upon by the NEC in reaching its decision.
The intervention by FIFA and CAF raises the stakes for FKF, as non-compliance with governance standards could trigger sanctions, including possible suspension from international football—a move that would bar Kenyan teams from participating in global and continental competitions.
As the investigations unfold, attention will remain on both the integrity of FKF’s internal processes and the broader implications for accountability and transparency in Kenyan football administration.
