On December 7, Hussein Mohammed was elected president of the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), a victory that has sparked both hope and skepticism within the football community. His election follows months of fervent campaigning, during which he presented an ambitious vision to revitalize Kenyan football. Mohammed’s promises for reform focus on addressing the stagnation and mismanagement that have plagued the sport in the country for years.
In August, before his candidacy, Mohammed articulated a bold plan to rebuild Kenyan football from the ground up. As the Vice-Chairman of Murang’a Seal and CEO of Extreme Sports, his professional background positions him as an outsider to the typical FKF leadership, but it is his passion for the game that sets him apart. He has been highly critical of the outgoing administration, accusing them of failing to develop proper systems, infrastructure, and talent programs. His critique was blunt: “It’s been eight years since Nick Mwendwa took office, and our teams are struggling from the Premier League down to Division Two. There’s no infrastructure, no proper marketing, no talent development programs, and no accountability.”
This frustration was a central theme of his manifesto, where he vowed to improve the country’s football infrastructure as a first step toward success. He painted a picture of Kenya with modern, eco-friendly stadiums scattered across counties. His aim is to ensure that every county has at least two to three stadiums, each with capacities of 5,000 to 10,000 seats. Mohammed argued that Kenya’s facilities are far behind those of neighboring countries like Tanzania, Uganda, and Rwanda, which, despite having smaller economies, manage to outperform Kenya. His solution involves public-private partnerships with county governments to build at least ten standard football pitches across the country, enabling local players to train and develop in world-class environments.
Mohammed’s vision, however, goes beyond just physical infrastructure. He is keen to introduce transparency and accountability into the management of football. One of the most striking promises in his campaign was his commitment to treat football as a commercial enterprise, similar to how it is managed in countries like Tanzania, where clubs like Simba and Yanga generate millions in annual revenues. Mohammed criticized the current system, which he believes lacks the business-oriented strategies necessary to support the development of local clubs. He highlighted how FKF is barely able to allocate significant funding to Kenyan Premier League clubs, often providing less than 10 million shillings per season. The disparity with other countries is evident, and Mohammed sees it as a reflection of poor leadership that needs to change.
In addition to his focus on infrastructure and finance, Mohammed has expressed a deep appreciation for Kenya’s football history. He promised to honor former football players by creating a national Hall of Fame and a football museum. According to him, these initiatives would help preserve the country’s rich football heritage while inspiring future generations of players. His push for inclusivity also resonated with many, as he called for the involvement of former players, sports professionals, content creators, and media personnel in decision-making processes, all contributing to a collaborative effort to build a stronger football system.
As he steps into his role as FKF president, the expectations placed on Mohammed are immense. His supporters view his victory as a potential turning point, but they also remain cautiously optimistic. The challenges that lie ahead are significant: corruption, political interference, and a history of unfulfilled promises weigh heavily on the future of Kenyan football. However, Mohammed’s resolve remains firm. He has vowed to lead with integrity, transparency, and a commitment to quality leadership.
The task before him is monumental, but it is not impossible. Kenyan football has long been plagued by inefficiencies and underperformance, but if Mohammed can translate his promises into action, there is hope that the country can once again compete at higher levels in African and global football. His tenure will not be judged by his words alone, but by his ability to bring about real change. The football community in Kenya, and beyond, will be watching closely to see if this new dawn for the sport will lead to lasting progress or simply be another chapter in the long struggle for reform.
