The vice-president of the Kenyan Football Federation, McDonald Mariga, and six other executive committee members were expelled at a special general assembly held in Meru on 7 November 2026. A meeting marked by tear gas firings.
The general assembly of the Kenyan Football Federation (FKF) voted to expel seven members of the executive committee, including vice-president McDonald Mariga Wanyama, according to Michezo Afrika. The decision comes a few months before AFCON 2027, which Kenya will co-host with Uganda and Tanzania.
The list of ousted officials, published by the same outlet, includes Robert Kenneth Macharia, Bernard Korir Lagat, Violet Kerubo Momanyi, Collins Opiyo Kalee, Gabriel Mghendi and Daniel Akala Shikanda. The FKF cites serious and repeated violations of its constitution and FIFA regulations. Only Boniface Ambani, president of AFC Leopards, voted against the motion.
Tear gas in the room
The proceedings were disrupted. According to Lolwe TV, officers from the police rapid deployment unit fired tear gas in the room where delegates were waiting. McDonald Mariga arrived at the venue under heavy police protection, the same channel reports. Sixty-five delegates were present at the conference, according to K24.digital.
After these incidents, FKF president Hussein Mohamed and acting secretary general Gicheru spoke with FIFA and CAF officials, again according to Lolwe TV. These discussions come as FIFA had warned in October against interference by ordinary courts in the administration of football.
Ambani still calls for dialogue
Boniface Ambani’s opposing vote came with a call for dialogue. According to K24.digital, he said he regretted that Kenyan football had come to this, and still believed it was possible to “sit down and sort out” its problems. He does not want to see FIFA intervene to solve the country’s problems.
Kenya has experienced years of conflicts between officials, legal battles and administrative suspensions, Michezo Afrika recalls. The Meru decision is part of this context.
AFCON 2027 in the crosshairs
The competition is due to take place in a few months, in Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Attention now turns to FIFA and CAF, whose monitoring of the case is awaited.
A former Kenyan international, McDonald Mariga no longer sits on the federation’s executive committee following this assembly.