Power struggle erupts at FKF as Mariga and Hussein Mohammed both claim presidency

A leadership crisis has engulfed Kenyan football after McDonald Mariga declared himself acting president of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), even as Hussein Mohammed maintains that he remains the legitimate holder of the office.

Mariga confirmed his position earlier on Tuesday, signalling what he described as a new phase of leadership within the federation.

However, the announcement was immediately thrown into doubt when Hussein Mohammed held a separate press briefing, firmly rejecting any suggestion that he had vacated office.

Mohammed insisted he is still the rightful FKF president, setting up a rare and increasingly tense standoff at the top of the country’s football hierarchy, with two rival claims to authority emerging from within the same governing structure.

The unfolding dispute has placed Kenyan football under intense scrutiny, with both the FIFA and the Confederation of African Football (CAF) said to be closely monitoring developments.

The situation raises concerns about governance stability at a critical time for the country’s football ambitions.

The leadership uncertainty comes at a sensitive moment, with Kenya preparing to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Tanzania and Uganda.

Questions are now being raised about how the internal wrangling could impact preparations for the continental tournament.

What is currently clear is that Kenyan football has been plunged into a full-scale power struggle, with no immediate resolution in sight and growing attention from the sport’s global and continental authorities.