FKF Civil War Escalates as Mariga Drags Federation to Tribunal Over Disciplinary Case

A fresh power struggle has erupted inside the Football Kenya Federation after Vice President McDonald Mariga moved to the Sports Disputes Tribunal seeking to block disciplinary proceedings initiated against him by the federation’s own disciplinary committee.

Court documents filed on May 27 reveal that Mariga has formally challenged the legality of the disciplinary process, setting the stage for a dramatic internal showdown within Kenya’s football leadership.

The petition names the FKF Disciplinary Committee as the main respondent, while the FKF Migori Branch has been listed as an interested party in the matter. The committee member identified as Boru has also been cited both personally and as an authorised representative of the disciplinary body.

Additionally, Daniel Ochola Ochali, the Secretary of the FKF Migori Branch, has been named as the representative of the interested party, signalling that the dispute has spread beyond the federation’s Nairobi headquarters into regional football politics.

In the tribunal filing, Mariga’s lawyers argue that the disciplinary proceedings are irregular and unlawful, claiming the process violates the rules and regulations governing FKF operations.

The case marks a rare and explosive confrontation within the federation, with a sitting vice president now openly battling the disciplinary machinery of the same organisation he was elected to help lead.

The disciplinary action stems from the controversial attempt by Mariga and a faction of National Executive Committee (NEC) members to suspend FKF President Hussein Mohammed alongside Acting General Secretary Dennis Gicheru and NEC member Abdulahi Yusuf Ibrahim over an alleged Ksh42.8 million fraud scandal.

The accusations centred on claims of irregular procurement involving an insurance policy linked to the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), which Kenya co-hosted.

On April 24, nine out of fourteen FKF NEC members voted to suspend the three officials and temporarily install Mariga as acting president, escalating tensions at the top of Kenyan football administration.

Following the move, Mariga was hit with four proposed disciplinary charges, including conduct prejudicial to football interests, bringing the game into disrepute, abuse of office, and failure to act in the federation’s best interests.

The situation took another dramatic turn after FIFA intervened through a letter dated May 27, dismissing the attempted suspensions and declaring that the Mariga-led faction had failed to comply with Article 41 of the FKF Constitution.

FIFA’s intervention now leaves FKF facing a deepening governance crisis, with divisions at the top threatening to destabilise football administration in the country ahead of key continental competitions.