Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Vice President McDonald Mariga has moved to the Sports Disputes Tribunal in an attempt to stop disciplinary proceedings facing him within the federation.
Court documents filed on Tuesday show Mariga is challenging the FKF Disciplinary Committee, arguing that the case against him goes against the federation’s own rules and procedures.
The case adds another twist to the ongoing wrangles at FKF that have in recent weeks exposed divisions within the federation’s top leadership.
The respondents identified in the petition are the FKF Disciplinary Committee. On the other hand, FKF Migori Branch is among the parties interested in the case.
According to the lawyer representing Mariga, the procedure being followed in disciplinary measures against Mariga is not fair and unjust.
This follows the fallout in the organization that emerged after some members of the FKF National Executive Committee sought to have FKF President Hussein Mohammed suspended for financial improprieties.
Other than seeking to have Hussein Mohammed suspended, Mariga and other dissenting members of the committee were in support of a call to have Acting General Secretary Dennis Gicheru and NEC Member Abdulahi Yusuf Ibrahim suspended for alleged corruption.
The decision to suspend the aforementioned officers was following claims that Hussein Mohammed had been involved in an alleged Sh42.8 million procurement scandal where he allegedly purchased insurance cover to be used in the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN).
Following the call for suspension of Hussein Mohammed and the others, the group led by Mariga announced that he had become the new acting president of the federation.
But the move did not go down well as internal conflicts soon arose among members of the federation.
Mariga is currently facing several accusations, which include working against the interest of football, misusing power, ruining the sport’s reputation and failing to act in the best interest of the federation.
The problems escalated even further when, according to reports, FIFA refused to recognize the suspension of Hussein Mohammed and his fellow members of the council.
In a May 27 letter to Mariga, FIFA stated that he had failed to follow procedures as outlined in Article 41 of the FKF constitution.
The latest move sets the stage for another battle, which could result in deeper conflicts within Kenyan football administration.
The Sports Disputes Tribunal will be tasked with the responsibility of making a determination on whether disciplinary action against Mariga should go ahead.