McDonald Mariga Removed as FKF Vice-President in 65-1 Vote

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has removed McDonald Mariga as its vice-president and six other members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) following a vote at a Special General Meeting in Meru. The meeting, held on November 7 and chaired by FKF President Hussein Mohammed, saw delegates vote 65 to one to remove Mariga. The vote was part of a broader move to address allegations of serious and repeated breaches of the FKF Constitution and applicable FIFA regulations.

The removed officials include Robert Macharia, representing Central Kenya; Gabriel Mugendi, representing the Coast; and Dan Shikanda, representing Nairobi, all of whom received 65 votes to one. Caleb Collins of Nyanza and Bernard Lagat of Lower Rift were removed by 64 votes to two, while Women's representative Violet Kirubo was removed by 64 votes to one. Representatives of FIFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF), and the Kenyan government attended the meeting, which was initially disrupted by chaos.

The Special General Meeting was delayed and began at 9 am, but was disrupted by hundreds of youths who arrived at the Three Steers Hotel, the venue. Police deployed teargas and Rapid Deployment Unit officers to restore order. The meeting proceeded after earlier discussions between representatives of different factions and officials from FIFA, CAF, and the Kenyan government.

According to FKF, the assembly—the federation's supreme decision-making organ—acted after considering allegations of serious and repeated breaches of the FKF Constitution and applicable FIFA regulations. These allegations include a purported NEC resolution of April 24 seeking the removal of the FKF president and other officials, repeated failure to attend properly convened NEC meetings, and unauthorized communication on behalf of FKF.

The federation cited actions by the removed officials that were contrary to the federation's constitution and football regulations. FKF stated that the assembly exercised its mandate under Articles 16 and 24 of the FKF Constitution, which provide for the expulsion of members and the dismissal of NEC officials. The decision could be challenged in court.

McDonald Mariga, a former Harambee Stars captain and Inter Milan midfielder, became FKF vice-president after Hussein Mohammed won the federation's elections on December 7, 2024. The two ran on a joint ticket, with Mohammed defeating Nick Mwendwa's bid to retain the presidency, securing 67 votes in the second round. Mariga's removal comes less than two years into his term.

The decision to remove Mariga and the other NEC members may have significant implications for the future of football administration in Kenya. FKF has promised to provide further information on implementation and resulting administrative arrangements. Key stakeholders, including FIFA and CAF, will likely be monitoring the situation closely.

Key points

• McDonald Mariga was removed as FKF vice-president with 65 votes to one at a Special General Meeting in Meru.
• The removal was part of a broader move to address allegations of breaches of the FKF Constitution and FIFA regulations.
• The decision could be challenged in court and may have significant implications for Kenyan football administration.