Ousted Football Kenya Federation (FKF) vice-president McDonald Mariga has petitioned Fifa to overturn his controversial removal, accusing President Hussein Mohamed of orchestration, betrayal and gross violation of due process during last Saturday’s chaotic Special General Meeting (SGM) in Meru. Mariga claims he and the seven other National Executive Committee members who were expelled were denied a fair hearing amid chaotic scenes that disrupted the proceedings.
Mariga said he had provided Fifa with all the relevant information regarding the feud and had sought its intervention. He ruled out taking the matter to court, but stated that he is consulting with his lawyers on whether to challenge his expulsion at the Sports Disputes Tribunal. Mariga also defended his decision to travel to the meeting accompanied by heavily armed police officers, citing intelligence suggesting that his life would be in danger.
Mariga accused Mohamed of betraying him and the trust that Kenyans placed in them to manage football. He claimed they had agreed he would oversee the national teams and youth competitions, but Mohamed refused to sign an agreement, saying he was a Muslim. Mariga also revealed that he had personally financed many of Mohamed’s campaigns in the Rift Valley, Nyanza and Western regions.
The former Inter Milan midfielder took issue with Mohamed’s claims that he had paid for his travel expenses using personal funds whenever the national team had fixtures. Mariga stated that the Ministry used to fund national team air tickets, accommodation, and even buses, and that he had to make his own arrangements on several occasions.
Mariga dismissed suggestions that he joined the FKF leadership to enjoy a lavish lifestyle, stating that he had not been paid a penny for the trips he had made. He also mentioned that proposals to provide officials with salaries, bodyguards and offices were included in the transition document prepared when the current administration took office.
Despite the difficulties, Mariga maintained that he was willing to work with Mohamed, insisting that he remained committed to improving Kenyan football. However, he emphasized the need to address rampant corruption at the federation. Mariga and the other expelled NEC members were denied a fair hearing, with secret ballots not used and impostors present.
The FKF crisis has sparked a court petition seeking to halt the proceedings after Mariga and NEC members' ouster. The petitioner is seeking conservatory orders restoring the pre-Saturday status quo. This is not the first time FKF presidents and VPs have been ousted, with similar incidents occurring in 2005 and 2012.
Key points
- Mariga accuses Hussein Mohamed of betrayal and gross violation of due process.
- Mariga petitions Fifa to overturn his removal from FKF.
- Mariga claims he was denied a fair hearing during the chaotic SGM in Meru.
