By a Kenyan Football Enthusiast
The recent turmoil at the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has once again exposed a worrying trend in Kenyan football: the tendency of some football leaders and self-proclaimed stakeholders to place politics ahead of the game’s interests.
In recent weeks, many football followers were shocked to see certain individuals celebrating reports that FKF bank accounts had been temporarily frozen as investigations into allegations surrounding the federation continued. While every institution must be subjected to accountability and due process, the celebrations were both misguided and unfortunate.
What many failed to understand is that the temporary closure of federation accounts does not primarily punish elected officials. Instead, it directly affects the day-to-day operations of the federation, including national team preparations, player welfare, travel arrangements, accommodation, allowances, staff salaries, and other critical logistical functions.
The biggest victims of such disruptions are not the federation president or elected officials. The real victims are the players, coaches, technical staff, and ordinary employees who work tirelessly to ensure Kenyan football continues to move forward.
The current logistical challenges facing FKF did not emerge in isolation. They are largely a consequence of the actions taken by nine FKF National Executive Committee members who attempted to remove FKF President Hussein Mohamed from office through processes that even FIFA described as unconstitutional.
Their actions triggered a chain reaction that invited investigations and administrative disruptions at a time when the federation should have been focusing on football development and national team preparations.
As investigative agencies moved in and the federation accounts became affected, it was inevitable that operational challenges would follow. The consequences are now being felt across various departments of the federation, particularly those responsible for national teams.
It is important to point out that the recent logistical challenges surrounding Kenya’s national teams should not be mistaken for a lack of capacity or competence on the part of the current FKF administration. Rather, they are a direct consequence of the governance crisis and administrative disruptions that have engulfed the federation in recent weeks. Any organization whose operations are suddenly subjected to investigations, account restrictions, and internal leadership wrangles would inevitably experience operational difficulties. To portray these challenges as evidence of incapacity is, therefore, misleading. The reality is that the federation has been forced to operate under extraordinary circumstances created by the ongoing leadership dispute, and it is the national teams that have unfortunately borne the greatest burden of that instability.
Unfortunately, some individuals who claim to be stakeholders in the game have chosen to celebrate these difficulties simply because they believe the challenges weaken the current administration. Such thinking is short-sighted and ultimately harmful to Kenyan football.
One cannot genuinely claim to support football while celebrating circumstances that undermine the preparations of Harambee Stars, Harambee Starlets, youth national teams, and other football development programs.
The reality is simple: if the nine NEC members had followed proper internal mechanisms and respected established governance procedures, the federation would likely not be facing the operational disruptions currently being experienced.
Accountability is important. No leader should be above scrutiny. However, accountability must be pursued responsibly and in a manner that does not cripple the very institution one seeks to improve.
Football stakeholders have every right to demand transparency from the federation. They have every right to question decisions and hold leaders accountable. What they do not have the right to do is create instability and then celebrate the negative consequences when those actions affect players, coaches, and national teams.
Kenya is currently preparing for significant football milestones, including continental and international competitions. This is a period that requires unity, stability, and support for football institutions—not endless political battles.
Since assuming office, FKF President Hussein Mohamed has been entrusted with a mandate by delegates who participated in a democratic election. Whether one supported him or not, the reality is that he was elected by the football fraternity and deserves the opportunity to implement his vision and be judged on his performance over the duration of his mandate.
The proper place to evaluate any administration is at the ballot through the delegates who elected it. If leaders fail to deliver, delegates have the power to deny them another term. That is how democratic football governance should work.
What Kenyan football needs today is less politics and more football.
The focus should be on improving leagues, supporting clubs, developing youth talent, empowering coaches, strengthening women’s football, and ensuring national teams receive the support they need to compete successfully.
Political battles may generate headlines, but they do not score goals, develop players, or win matches.
As investigations continue, all parties should allow due process to take its course without turning football administration into a battlefield. Most importantly, stakeholders must remember that every action that disrupts federation operations ultimately affects the players who represent the nation.
As a passionate follower of Kenyan football, I believe stakeholders must always put the interests of the game above personal ambitions, political rivalries, or leadership contests and should never become so disruptive as to interfere with the preparation and performance of the national teams that carry the hopes of millions of Kenyans.
The game must always come first.
Kenyan football deserves leadership debates that strengthen the sport—not power struggles that create logistical nightmares for the very teams carrying the country’s hopes on the international stage.
