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Hussein Mohammed is the man tasked with reviving Kenyan football and the new FKF president has little time to celebrate as he needs to sort out some key things immediately.
Hussein Mohammed is the new broom that has been given the responsibility of cleaning the mess that Kenyan football finds itself in.
Mohammed outwitted his nemesis and outgoing president Nick Mwendwa to clinch the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) presidency in the hotly-contested elections conducted at Kasarani Indoor Gymnasium on Saturday December 7.
The Extreme Sports CEO finally clinched the seat that he lost out to Sam Nyamweya in 2011, overcoming a number of hurdles placed on his way by the Mwendwa regime to finally get into the big office.
Following his election, Mohammed and his deputy McDonald Mariga, have no time to waste as there are a number of pressing issues that need sorting immediately before they embark on a long-term plan.
CHAN 2024 preparations
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15:40 - 03.12.2024
58 days to CHAN: Can Kenya beat the clock or face another national embarrassment?
Kenya faces a tight 28-day deadline to finalize CHAN 2024 preparations amid mounting challenges and CAF inspectors' concerns.
Kenya is in a race against time to be ready for the 2024 African Nations Championships (CHAN 2024) as the stadiums earmarked for the tournament are far from ready.
If he was curious to look at what is going on at Kasarani during the elections, Mohammed must have been left worried by how behind schedule Kenya is with renovation work at the stadium far from over yet the country has up to December 31 to hand over the facility to CAF.
The situation is the same at Nyayo Stadium, the other facility set to host the tournament, which Kenya will stage alongside Uganda and Tanzania.
Sports Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen appointed a multi-agency team tasked with steering Kenya’s preparations for CHAN 2024 and 2027 Africa Cup of Nations and FKF will play a critical part in how the country handles the issue as if it goes wrong, Rwanda is waiting on the wings to take over, in what would be another embarrassing episode for the country.
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07:45 - 08.12.2024
'My team will move with speed' - New FKF boss Hussein Mohammed vows as he faces uphill task to ready Kenya to co-host 2024 CHAN
Mohammed's first task will be to ensure Kenya meets the threshold needed to be ready to co-host the 2024 CHAN next February, with the deadline by CAF set at December 31st.
Sort out Firat’s future
Another pressing issue is the fate of Harambee Stars coach Engin Firat whose tenure has been marked with failures yet the outgoing regime seemed to be comfortable with his presence and work.
Firat failed to deliver Kenya to the 2025 AFCON after promising numerous times that he would do so and his style of football, selection and sentiments have not been inspiring.
There is a consensus among Kenyans that the Turkish tactician should have been sacked by now but he is still around, thanks to a contract that runs up to March 2026.
Firat said his future will depend on the FKF elections, suggesting that he would stay if the Doris Petra/Mwendwa ticket won, but he now faces uncertainty with Mohammed in charge.
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10:40 - 08.12.2024
Engin Fırat walking on hot charcoal as federation’s shakeup could end his reign with Harambee Stars
On Saturday, the changes at Kenya’s football federation raised questions about Engin Fırat’s future amid World Cup 'hopes'.
However, the tactician also claimed he has not been paid for 11 months and the issue of his pay will be tricky for the new office to handle as he will need to be paid all his dues before an exit.
Address referees mess
The level of officiating across all levels of the Kenyan game are at its all-time low with complaints raised in the entire football pyramid.
Questionable calls and allegations of match fixing have become so common with some blatant biased decisions witnessed.
This has been blamed on the low morale of match officials whose welfare was largely ignored by the outgoing regime.
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14:37 - 02.12.2024
Mara Sugar vs Gor Mahia: Did referees cross the line by accepting Raila Odinga’s cash reward?
Raila Odinga has sparked debate by gifting Sh1.1 million to Gor Mahia, Mara Sugar FC and referees during KPL match.
Referees are on record for having not been paid for several months and some are believed to be colluding with rogue club officials to make questionable calls in an exchange for a quick buck.
The Mohammed-led office has its work cut out as the problem cuts across all levels but needs to be addressed immediately.
Professionalise KPL
One of Mohammed’s main promises was to ensure the Kenyan league is managed professionally and by an independent entity akin to the Jack Oguda-led Kenya Premier League Limited that ran the top flight for nearly two decades before the federation took over.
There is a feeling that the local league’s standards have dwindled since it ceased being KPL and became FKF-PL as it lacked independence with decisions made by the federation boss and his executive while intimidation and threats faced clubs that opposed their modus operandi.
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05:45 - 26.11.2024
Pamzo blames Harambee Stars' AFCON 2025 failure on 'low quality' Kenyan league
The ex-Shabana coach believes the national team's mediocre performance in the AFCON qualifiers is indicative of the drop in standards of the FKF Premier League.
With an independent entity, there is hope that the league would be free from the shackles of the federation and perhaps turn from semi-pro to professional.
Win back sponsors
Having a professionally run league will be one of the ways to win sponsorship back into the Kenyan game as it has been lacking.
However, there must be value for the sponsor and the Mohammed-led team must come up with ways of wooing fans into the stadiums and also clean the image of the Kenyan game.
Mohammed had already named some sponsors who ‘were waiting in the wings’ for him to be elected and it remains to be seen if they will live up to their promise.
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07:30 - 12.10.2024
McDonald Mariga's ambitious blueprint to transform Kenyan football as he teams up with Hussein Mohammed
Former Inter Milan midfielder McDonald Mariga has an elaborate plan that he hopes will transform Kenyan football after being unveiled as Hussein Mohammed’s running mate.
Having money coming into the game will ensure players, who have been forgotten and languishing in poverty, get paid well and perhaps a minimum wage set so that the main characters of the whole movie benefit first before the rest can follow.
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