FKF expels seven NEC members after teargas disrupts Meru meeting

The Football Kenya Federation voted to expel seven executive members after a Meru meeting was disrupted by police teargas, though accounts of what happened differ.

What happened

A Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Special General Meeting in Meru was disrupted on Saturday, November 7 [1][2]. According to the FKF, officers from the Police Rapid Deployment Unit fired teargas canisters into the room at Three Steers Hotel, where delegates had gathered, and the meeting had not started [2]. The sources differ on where the teargas was used. [1] says it was used at the main entrance, while the text of [3] quotes the federation saying it was discharged into the meeting room [3]. The sources do not include a police account of the operation.

The FKF General Assembly then resolved to expel seven National Executive Committee (NEC) members, including Vice-President McDonald Mariga Wanyama, over alleged violations of the FKF Constitution [1][3]. The sources do not say what those violations were [3].

Why Kenyans are searching for it

The sources do not explain why people in Kenya are searching for 'fkf', and none links search interest to a single event. They cover the Meru meeting and its aftermath [1][2][3], so this explainer cannot confirm what is driving the searches.

Key facts

• Vote: Sixty-five delegates voted in favour of the expulsions. AFC Leopards chair Boniface Ambani was the only one to oppose [2][3].
• Crowd and delay: According to [1], citing [3], hundreds of youths had gathered at the hotel before the police operation. The meeting was scheduled for 9:00 am and had not started amid a tense standoff.
• Defence: According to [3], FKF president Hussein Mohammed said the seven had been invited to defend themselves but declined to do so or send a legal representative.
• Dispute: Mariga and NEC member Dan Shikanda have dismissed their expulsion, according to [2]. Shikanda described the meeting as illegal and said genuine delegates were locked out [2].

What to watch

• The specific FKF Constitution violations behind the expulsions, which the sources do not describe.
• Whether a police account of the operation is published, as the sources currently include none.
• Whether Mariga and Shikanda take further action against the expulsions, given that they have rejected them [2].

Sources

1. [1] FKF moves to expel seven NEC members after disrupted Meru meeting - Nairobi Tea
2. [2] FKF expels seven NEC members after disrupted Meru meeting, sources report - Nairobi Tea
3. [3] FKF expels VP Mariga and six NEC members at disrupted Meru meeting - Nairobi Tea

Compiled by the NairobiCity trend desk from the sources above.