Football Kenya Federation Vice President Macdonald Mariga says he was the main target at the chaotic Special General Meeting in Meru on Saturday, November 7, 2026. He spoke on a local radio station on Saturday, November 14. Mariga has since been expelled from the federation and its National Executive Committee.
Mariga said delegates allied to him were pelted with stones and chased away. He claimed youths armed with crude weapons had taken over the venue and nearby areas early that morning. Police then moved in to disperse the crowd.
He explained why he arrived at the Meru hotel under heavy security. He said police had warned that his life was at risk. “I was the target,” he said. He claimed intelligence reports had said armed goons were after him and that a message was circulating that he should not leave the meeting alive.
Mariga also described the teargas used during the chaos. He said he wanted to enter a meeting convened by FIFA and CAF observers. He claimed that Hussein Mohammed, the federation’s leader, chased him away. He blamed Hussein’s police for firing the teargas at delegates.
Following the meeting, the federation’s General Assembly expelled seven NEC members. Mariga was among them. The others were Women’s Representative Kerubo Momanyi, Nairobi NEC member Dan Shikanda, Coast representative Gabriel Mghendi, Nyanza representative Collins Opiyo Kalee, Central representative Robert Macharia, and Upper Rift Valley representative Bernard Lagat. The federation said the seven remain subject to possible sanctions from its judicial bodies, CAF, and FIFA.
The dispute began earlier in 2026. On April 24, nine NEC members moved against Hussein, Acting General Secretary Dennis Gicheru, and NEC member Abdullahi Yusuf Ibrahim. Mariga’s group accused the three of wrongdoing over the purchase of insurance cover worth about Ksh42.48 million for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The NEC suspended them and named Mariga acting president. It also called for a forensic audit and a freeze on the federation’s bank accounts.
Hussein’s camp rejected the suspension and questioned the legality of the NEC’s move. The Sports Disputes Tribunal stepped in and issued temporary orders stopping the NEC from enforcing its decisions. FIFA also began examining whether the NEC had followed the federation’s constitution. It sought records on how the meeting was convened, whether a quorum existed, how the vote was taken, and whether the officials were allowed to respond. That effectively halted the attempt to install Mariga as president.
The High Court in Siaya has now suspended all outcomes of the Meru meeting. The order will remain in place until the case is heard and decided.
About The Author
