NAIROBI, Kenya, October 28, 2026 – Football Kenya Federation (FKF) president Hussein Mohammed seems to be a man walking through a landmine.

Just when he dodges one, his foot lands into another one, seemingly triggering off explosive battles within Kandanda House.

Hussein’s ‘honeymoon’ with his deputy MacDonald Mariga lasted just over a year before the sugar coat withered off and the bitter pill unravelled.

Ever since Mariga and nine members of the National Executive Committee (NEC) ousted him on allegations of financial misappropriation, Kandanda House has been a ‘house divided’ even with the intervention of Fifa and the Confederation of African Football (CAF).

Now, the two are set to appear before a special general meeting (SGM) on November 7 to answer to charges levelled against them by the federation’s General Assembly.

It could well be a day of long knives for both – or one of them – resulting in their dismissal should the charges against them be substantiated.

The assembly, on Tuesday evening, summoned the two to respond to a litany of accusations against them.

The president is accused of circumventing FKF’s financial regulations, poor leadership and constitutional accountability, interference with league structure and competition rules, irregular appointment of the national team technical bench and acting CEO Denis Gicheru.

He also faces accusations of irregularly appointing third parties to FKF committees, improperly utilising government funds for national teams, Africa Nations Championships (CHAN) and Afcon 2027 as well as manipulating NEC minutes to use in judicial proceedings.

“Accordingly, you are hereby summoned to show cause why disciplinary action, including dismissal from the office of President of FKF, reprimand or such other lawful and constitutionally permissible measure as may be determined by the General Assembly, should not be considered in respect of the matters set out below,” the document reads.

Failure to offer leadership

Similarly, Mariga stands accused of failing to offer leadership in various issues affecting FKF, including the impasse within NEC, convening an annual general meeting (AGM), attempting to oust his boss in April this year as well as irregular appointment of national team technical bench.

The General Assembly have also faulted the former Inter Milan midfielder for failing to attend NEC meetings due to the fractured relationship with his boss.

“That you repeatedly failed, without sufficient justification, to attend properly convened NEC meetings, thereby obstructing collective decisions and oversight,” the assembly said.

The rift within FKF was laid bare in April this year with the attempted ouster of Hussein by Mariga and Co, accusing him of complicity in the Ksh 42.4 million insurance scandal involving Riskwell Insurance Brokers.

The firm was allegedly contracted to provide insurance cover for CHAN without a brokerage licence from the Insurance Regulatory Authority (IRA).

Hussein later retained his position following intervention from Fifa and Caf, the latter ruling that the meeting that suspended him was irregularly convened, in contravention of article 39 and article 35 of FKF’s constitution.

Since then, contradictory statements from the two factions (Hussein and Mariga) have been the order of the day from Kandanda House.

Hussein has accused his bossom buddy-turned-rival of sabotaging the federation operations and bringing everything to a standstill, despite his best efforts to reconcile the warring parties.

On the other hand, Mariga blames his boss for dictatorial tendencies and for sidelining him from federation activities – the ex-Harambee Stars captain adding that he has had to fund his own travels.

In his corner, Mariga has the support of seven members including Gabriel Mgendi, Dan Shikanda, Collins Kalee, Violet Kerubo, Robert Macharia and Bernard Lagat.

Meanwhile, Hussein retains the support of Charles Njoka, Peter ‘Kass Kass’ Kamau, Ahmed Qadar, Swaleh Said, and Abdullahi Yusuf.

With the next battleground set for the November 7 SGM at the Three Steers Hotel in Meru, Hussein and Mariga factions will have drawn their daggers for another bruising fight for supremacy.

For football fans, the best outcome would be one in which the game emerges winner.