The Football Kenya Federation has named a new acting chief. But the move has only sharpened an old dispute.
On Thursday, FKF announced that Dennis Gicheru, its head of legal affairs, would step in as Acting General Secretary and chief executive with immediate effect. The appointment, the federation said, would hold the fort as it begins the search for a permanent office holder.
“We wish to announce that FKF Head of Legal Affairs, Dennis Gicheru, has been appointed Acting General Secretary/CEO pending the advertisement and substantive filling of the position,” the federation said in a statement.
On paper, the decision looks routine. In reality, it lands in the middle of a bitter legal fight that has left the federation split and uncertain about who truly runs it.
Harold Ndege, the substantive CEO, remains in office in law, even as his authority has been contested in practice. The dispute dates back to late 2025, when FKF president Hussein Mohammed accused Mr Ndege of a catalogue of failures, including gross misconduct, weak governance and failing to relay key summons from Parliament.
Mr Ndege rejected the claims and turned to the Employment and Labour Relations Court. In January, the court issued orders stopping the federation from removing him, effectively freezing any disciplinary process while the case is heard.
Despite those orders, FKF has pressed ahead with Mr Gicheru’s appointment. The federation has not said the move amounts to a removal. Instead, it has framed it as a stopgap meant to keep daily operations running.
Mr Ndege has described the situation as “unprofessional”. Mr Mohammed, for his part, has argued that FKF needs sweeping change, saying the organisation cannot move forward without a clear reform agenda.
The case has taken several sharp turns. In late January, Mr Ndege’s lawyers challenged an affidavit sworn by the FKF president, arguing it was invalid because it was commissioned in Kenya while he was said to be in Morocco at the time. The court is still weighing those procedural objections.
For now, the result is an awkward stalemate. One CEO holds a court order. Another occupies the office.
Into that space steps Mr Gicheru, a lawyer by training and a former player who turned out for Wazito FC and KCB. His brief is narrow but delicate: keep the federation functioning while the courts untangle the rest.
FKF has said he will oversee day-to-day work and ensure programmes continue without interruption. His legal background may prove useful, given that the dispute defining his tenure is being fought in court.
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