The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Special General Meeting (SGM), scheduled for Saturday, November 7, 2026, at the Three Steers Hotel in Meru, has been disrupted by chaos after police officers fired teargas inside the hotel as tensions escalated ahead of the crucial gathering.
The meeting, which was scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM, had yet to commence amid a tense standoff involving security officers, groups of youths and delegates who had travelled to Meru to deliberate on the federation's leadership crisis.
Officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) moved into the hotel in an operation aimed at restoring order and clearing individuals reportedly occupying parts of the premises.
Hundreds of youths had reportedly gathered at the venue before the security operation, with teargas also fired at the hotel's main entrance as officers attempted to disperse the crowd and secure access for accredited delegates.
In a statement, FKF expressed concern over the police operation, saying officers had entered the meeting room and discharged teargas while delegates were seated waiting for proceedings to begin.
The federation said the meeting had not commenced following the incident, raising concerns over the safety of delegates and the ability to conduct the scheduled business.
The disruption also saw FKF Deputy President McDonald Mariga arrive at the venue under heavy police protection amid heightened security.
The developments come a day after a reported physical confrontation in Meru involving an FKF National Executive Committee member and two branch chairmen who had visited the venue to assess preparations for the meeting. The confrontation reportedly left several people injured, further raising tensions ahead of Saturday's gathering.
The SGM had been convened by members of the FKF General Assembly to deliberate on the conduct of members of the National Executive Committee (NEC), against the backdrop of a prolonged leadership dispute between FKF President Hussein Mohammed and his deputy, McDonald Mariga.
Seven NEC officials are facing scrutiny, including Mariga, Nairobi representative Dan Shikanda, Central representative Robert Macharia, Women's Representative Kerubo Momanyi, Coast representative Gabriel Mghendi, Nyanza representative Collins Opiyo Kalee and Upper Rift Valley representative Bernard Lagat.
The dispute intensified in April after a faction of NEC members passed resolutions seeking to suspend Hussein Mohammed and other federation officials over allegations surrounding a KSh42.48 million insurance transaction linked to the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The attempted suspensions were subsequently challenged before the Sports Disputes Tribunal, with FIFA also questioning the constitutional validity of the process.
Saturday's meeting was expected to give the General Assembly an opportunity to examine the disputed resolutions and determine whether disciplinary action should be taken against the officials involved.
Under the FKF Constitution, removing an NEC member requires a two-thirds majority of delegates present and voting. With approximately 91 delegates expected, at least 61 votes would be required if all attended.
FIFA, the Confederation of African Football (CAF) and government representatives were expected to attend the meeting as observers, amid growing concerns over the impact of the leadership wrangles on the administration of Kenyan football.
The latest disruption raises questions about whether the delegates will be able to proceed with the scheduled business and whether the meeting will achieve its intended objective of resolving divisions within the federation.
The leadership crisis comes at a critical time for Kenyan football, with the country preparing to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
The immediate focus remains on restoring order at the Three Steers Hotel and allowing accredited delegates to access the meeting venue.
