The Confederation of African Football (Caf) and Kenyan football authorities expressed deep sorrow over the death of former Kenya Football Federation (KFF) Secretary General Hussein Swaleh, who perished in the Ethiopian Airlines Flight 302 crash on March 10, 2019. The tragedy claimed 157 lives, including 32 Kenyans, during the flight from Addis Ababa to Nairobi.
Swaleh, who served as a Caf Match Commissioner from 2018 to 2020, was returning to Kenya after overseeing a Caf Champions League match in Alexandria. His role in Kenyan football dates back to the 2004 Africa Cup of Nations campaign, when he led the now-defunct KFF.
Caf President Ahmad Ahmad conveyed condolences to Swaleh’s family and the KFF, calling him a "dearest" figure. Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Nick Mwendwa tweeted, "Sad day for football. You were doing what you loved most. Fare thee well my chairman."
Harambee Stars captain Victor Wanyama and other football figures also mourned the loss. Extreme Sports CEO Hussein Mohammed recalled their collaborations in Kenyan football administration, while SportPesa Premier League club Sofapaka extended condolences to all affected families.
The Boeing 737 crashed minutes after takeoff from Addis Ababa’s Bole airport, with the aircraft losing contact at 8:44 am local time. Ethiopian Airlines confirmed 149 passengers and eight crew members died in the incident.
