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Sh270m legal fees cripple FKF operations
Football Kenya Federation president Hussein Mohammed during the federation's congress at Sports View Hotel in Nairobi on May 31, 2025.
What you need to know:
- Hussein also revealed that FKF could face a Sh18 million fine related to a disciplinary case involving Zoo Football Club, which was relegated to the FKF Division One League in 2021 over match-fixing allegations.
- “If the federation loses the case, FIFA will impose a 20 percent deduction from the federation’s FIFA Forward funds,” he noted.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) is grappling with massive legal fees that are severely hindering its operations.
The situation is compounded by substantial financial sanctions resulting from numerous legal cases before various judicial bodies, both locally and internationally.
According to FKF’s Annual Report and Financial Statements for the year ending December 31, 2024, the federation had incurred external counsel fees amounting to Sh269.8 million as of January 2025.
In addition, FKF reported pending legal liabilities of approximately Sh19 million arising from cases filed before the Fifa Tribunal.
“The litigation status, including pending legal fees claimed against the Federation as at January 2025, was summarised below: Federation’s external counsel - Sh269,859,400. Federation pending legal liabilities arising from cases filed before the FIFA Tribunal - CHF 137,500 (Swiss Francs), approximately Sh19,937,500,” states the federation’s financial report released on Saturday.
While the report did not provide further details about the cases, an audit by the FKF Transition Committee—released on February 24—revealed that the federation is currently embroiled in 21 legal cases related to election disputes, unpaid legal fees, and contractual matters, some of which date back to previous regimes.
Speaking during the ninth FKF Congress held at Sportsview Hotel in Kasarani, Nairobi, on Saturday, FKF President Hussein Mohammed revealed that the federation is managing financial obligations of over Sh600 million, putting immense pressure on its ability to deliver essential programmes.
“We are navigating financial obligations of over Sh600 million which has placed pressure on our ability to deliver on key programmes,” said Hussein.
Among the major legal disputes FKF faces is a case in which a private company is seeking to have the federation declared insolvent over a Sh35.7 million debt.
According to court documents, AFS International GMBH claims FKF has failed to settle the amount despite multiple reminders.
The debt arises from a seven-year broadcast deal FKF signed with Azam Media on August 31, 2023, worth $9.1 million (Sh1.3 billion).
During the congress, Hussein further disclosed that FIFA has sanctioned a Sh5.5 million deduction from FKF’s FIFA Forward funds to settle a fine related to the late payment of Sh109 million owed to former Harambee Stars coach Adel Amrouche following his unlawful dismissal.
“The deduction will take effect in the next allocation,” he said.
Belgian national Amrouche, who coached Harambee Stars between 2013 and 2014, had filed a wrongful dismissal case with the FIFA Players’ Status Committee, which initially awarded him Sh60 million.
However, upon appeal, the Court of Arbitration for Sport increased his compensation to Sh109 million.
Hussein also revealed that FKF could face a Sh18 million fine related to a disciplinary case involving Zoo Football Club, which was relegated to the FKF Division One League in 2021 over match-fixing allegations.
“If the federation loses the case, FIFA will impose a 20 percent deduction from the federation’s FIFA Forward funds,” he noted.
In a separate matter, the FKF president confirmed that the Kenya Under-17 women’s national football team was fined Sh400,000 during their participation in the 2024 FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup held in the Dominican Republic.