FKF expels Vice-President McDonald Mariga and six other NEC members at Meru meeting

The Football Kenya Federation has expelled seven National Executive Committee members, including Vice-President McDonald Mariga, after a stormy Special General Meeting in Meru.

What happened

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) General Assembly resolved to expel seven members of its National Executive Committee (NEC), including Vice-President McDonald Mariga Wanyama, following a Special General Meeting held in Meru on Saturday [2]. In a statement dated November 7, the federation said the decision followed deliberations on allegations of violations of the FKF Constitution [2]. According to [5], 65 delegates voted in favour of the proposal, and AFC Leopards chair Boniface Ambani was the only one to oppose it. [5] also reports that FKF president Hussein Mohammed said the seven had been invited to defend themselves but declined to do so or send a legal representative.

The meeting itself was disrupted. Hundreds of youths had reportedly gathered at the hotel before a security operation began, and the meeting, scheduled for 9:00 am, had not started amid a tense standoff [3]. Police Rapid Deployment Unit officers moved in to clear people who had reportedly taken over parts of the hotel [3]. The sources differ on where teargas was used. [3] says it was used at the main entrance, [6] says it was deployed inside the meeting venue at Three Steers Hotel just before the meeting was due to begin, and [1] reports that police teargassed delegates.

Why Kenyans are searching for it

The sources do not say why Kenyans are searching for "mariga". They describe Mariga's expulsion and the chaos at the Meru meeting, but none explains what has driven the search interest.

Key facts

• The seven expelled members are Mariga, Robert Kenneth Macharia, Bernard Korir Lagat, Violet Kerubo Momanyi, Collins Opiyo Kalee, Gabriel Mghendi and Daniel Akala Shikanda [2][5].
• The Assembly considered a purported NEC resolution dated April 24, 2026, which sought the removal of FKF President Hussein Mohammed and other officials [2][4].
• The federation alleged that the seven had repeatedly failed to attend duly convened NEC meetings, engaged in unauthorised communication on behalf of the federation, and taken actions that allegedly violated the FKF Constitution and football regulations [2].
• The expulsions were made under Articles 16 and 24 of the FKF Constitution [2][4].
• Representatives of FIFA and CAF attended, along with Acting Sports Registrar Chacha J. Maroa and representatives of the State Department for Sports [2].
• Before the meeting, a physical confrontation in Meru reportedly involved an NEC member and two branch chairmen, and several people were reportedly injured [3].
• The sources disagree on how Mariga arrived. [3] describes a video showing him arriving in a police van, while [6] describes a Toyota Land Cruiser flanked by RDU officers.

What to watch

• FKF said it would communicate further on the implementation of the resolutions and the resulting administrative arrangements [2].
• FKF condemned the incident at the Meru meeting, according to [6].
• The sources do not include a response from Mariga or the other expelled officials to the allegations.

Sources

1. [1] Police teargas delegates as FKF meeting descends into chaos in Meru - Daily Nation
2. [2] Mariga, 6 other officials expelled by Football Kenya Federation General Assembly - The Star, Kenya
3. [3] Drama, teargas as FKF Special General Meeting erupts into chaos in Meru - Citizen Digital
4. [4] FKF General Assembly resolves to expel Mariga and six other NEC members - Nairobi Tea
5. [5] Mariga ousted as FKF vice-president following stormy meeting in Meru - Nairobi Tea
6. [6] McDonald Mariga: Chaos, teargas as FKF vice president arrives at meeting with RDU officers - Nairobi Tea

Compiled by the NairobiCity trend desk from the sources above.