Police fired teargas into a Football Kenya Federation (FKF) meeting in Meru on Saturday morning, forcing delegates and federation officials to abandon the proceedings before they had begun.

The incident happened at the Three Steers Hotel, where members of the FKF General Assembly had gathered and were seated awaiting the start of a Special General Meeting (SGM). Officers from the Police Rapid Deployment Unit (RDU) moved into the venue and discharged teargas into the meeting room, according to the federation. FKF officials were seen leaving the hotel with their hands raised.

In a statement issued on Saturday, the federation said the meeting had yet to commence when the officers intervened. It said the operation had interfered with a constitutional process convened by members of the General Assembly, and the meeting's status remained uncertain. Further updates would follow, it said.

Leadership row behind the meeting

The meeting was called to consider the conduct of seven members of the FKF National Executive Committee, including vice-president McDonald Mariga, after months of disagreement between Mariga and FKF president Hussein Mohammed. It was also expected to examine resolutions taken by a section of the committee on 24 April, including moves to suspend Hussein and other senior officials. The meeting was convened by members of the General Assembly under Article 31(2) of the FKF Constitution.

The disruption followed a tense build-up. Mariga arrived at the venue accompanied by RDU officers, and some delegates had difficulty getting into the hotel, with teargas also used at the main entrance. A physical confrontation involving a committee member and two branch chairmen was reported in Meru the day before. The row comes as Kenya prepares to co-host the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations with Uganda and Tanzania.