Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed has accused his deputy, Macdonald Mariga, of attempting a coup, escalating a bitter leadership feud at the heart of Kenyan football.
Mohammed made the claim on May 5, 2026, when he appeared before the National Assembly Committee on Sports, Culture and Tourism, where he was grilled over a Ksh42 million insurance scandal linked to preparations for the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
The embattled FKF boss said the attempt to remove him from office was orchestrated while he was out of the country.
“The FKF Vice President attempted a coup while I was away. Surprisingly, we were in those meetings together, but I wasn’t aware that there was trouble in my backyard,” Mohammed said, in remarks reported during the proceedings.
The statement marks the strongest accusation yet from Mohammed against Mariga and members of the FKF National Executive Committee (NEC), who last month voted to suspend him over alleged financial impropriety.
Parliamentary Scrutinize Hussein Mohammed on AFCON Preparedness
During the same appearance, Mohammed faced sustained questioning from lawmakers over Kenya’s readiness to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
MPs pressed him to justify whether the country is adequately prepared to deliver a tournament of that scale.
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In response, Mohammed maintained that preparations are “on course” and aligned with Confederation of African Football (CAF) requirements, citing the existence of a signed hosting agreement, an operational Local Organising Committee, and ongoing coordination with co-host nations.
Lawmakers also raised concerns about infrastructure readiness, including stadium upgrades, training facilities, and transport logistics.
Mohammed told the committee that these projects are progressing on schedule and that planning is being executed through a coordinated regional framework involving all three host countries.
On technical capacity, he stated that Kenya has met CAF medical standards and has put in place a comprehensive emergency response system covering both medical incidents and match-day security risks.
Committee members further demanded clarity on execution beyond policy commitments.
Mohammed responded that operational planning structures are already active, with inter-agency coordination mechanisms in place to support tournament delivery.
Mohammed further denied any wrongdoing, telling MPs that no funds were lost and dismissing the allegations as a smear campaign aimed at undermining his reforms within FKF.
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He further argued that the insurance cover for CHAN was handled through CAF structures rather than directly by FKF, challenging the basis of the accusations against him.
Power Struggle Deepens Inside FKF
The leadership wrangle erupted on April 24, when nine NEC members resolved to suspend Mohammed and asked him, along with other top officials, to step aside to pave the way for investigations into the disputed insurance payment.
The same meeting installed Mariga as acting president, triggering a parallel power structure within the federation.
However, Mohammed rejected the decision, insisting it was unconstitutional and politically motivated.
“I have not stepped aside. I remain the duly elected FKF President,” he told the parliamentary committee, maintaining that the NEC process lacked legal validity.
His stance has been partly reinforced by the Sports Disputes Tribunal, which temporarily halted his removal, setting the stage for an ongoing legal battle over who controls the federation.
The row has since drawn the attention of world football governing body FIFA, which has demanded documentation on how the NEC reached its decision, including whether proper procedures were followed.
Hussein Mohammed’s claim of a coup attempt comes just days after he and his deputy, Mcdonald Mariga, attended a CAF workshop in Kampala, Uganda, as part of preparations for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations.
In his remarks, Mohammed suggested the alleged plot unfolded during that period, expressing surprise that it occurred while they were attending meetings together and saying he was unaware of any move against him at the time.
The three host nations, Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania, are jointly preparing to stage AFCON 2027, making coordination meetings a regular part of preparations.
