Eugine Wabwile 
FIFA President Gianni Infantino (C), FKF President Hussein Mohammed (L), and FKF Vice President McDonald Mariga (R).
BY SHEM LUNALO
In a significant move underscoring the importance of governance in football, FIFA has intervened in a dispute within the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), providing a much-needed reality check for certain members of the FKF's National Executive Committee (NEC). The international football governing body decisively rejected attempts by some NEC members to force top officials to step aside amid allegations of fraud, emphasizing the need to adhere to established processes and constitutional laws.
At the core of this heated dispute lies Article 41 of the FKF’s 2017 Constitution. FIFA’s strong stance highlights that any attempt to remove an elected official prematurely amounts to a provisional suspension. They stressed that such serious actions must be carried out in strict adherence to constitutional guidelines,standards that, according to FIFA, the dissenting NEC members failed to follow. This oversight included a lack of proper justification and insufficient communication with the broader board.
In light of these developments, FKF President Hussein Mohamed has embraced FIFA’s intervention, reassuring stakeholders that the federation is fully operational and more united than ever. Mohamed expressed a commitment to transparency and collaboration, emphasizing that the focus should be on the collective growth of Kenyan football rather than divisive politics. “Football is in safe hands now. I want to give you the confidence that we are going to move on with speed in terms of regularizing our situation,” he stated, inviting collaboration from all stakeholders interested in advancing the sport.
In a quick pivot following FIFA’s guidance, the once-dissenting NEC members released a statement acknowledging FIFA’s procedural recommendations. While they defended their previous actions as efforts to ensure transparency and accountability, they now express a commitment to work collaboratively with FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) to ensure that all future actions respect the framework established by the 2017 Constitution.
With FIFA making its position clear, the burden now lies on the local football leadership to mend fences. The intervention serves as a pivotal reminder that any reforms or disciplinary actions need to be carried out in strict adherence to the law. This not only protects the integrity of Kenyan football at home but also bolsters its image on the international stage.
