On Saturday, December 7th, at the Moi Kasarani Indoor Arena, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Nick Mwendwa and his allies faced an unexpected shock.
The more than 53 delegates who had previously endorsed Mwendwa’s camp in the just-concluded polls turned out to cast their votes for his main rival, Hussein Mohammed, after allegedly receiving a substantial bribe just a week before the elections.
The atmosphere at Kandanda House a day before the polls was electric, brimming with anticipation and high energy.
The mood was jubilant, with staff allied to Team Blue exuding confidence that victory was well within their grasp.
“Ilikuwa ya kufurahisha,” they would say, as they were assured of their win, having secured endorsements from over 53 delegates. The belief was that the polls would be a mere formality—a walk in the park.
Nick Mwendwa, buoyant and optimistic, could already be seen celebrating early. To boost morale, his entire camp was treated to a lavish day at the Nairobi Inn, dining in preparation for what they assumed would be a triumphant Saturday.
Come election day, the team organized a convoy of over ten vehicles filled with staff, delegates, and cheering fans, all en route to Kasarani, where the polls were set to take place.
Spirits were high as they embarked on the journey, believing they were on the brink of victory.
Little did they know, an unforeseen twist awaited them—a day that began with confidence would end with shattered expectations and hard questions about loyalty and strategy.
But as the voting process unfolded, the mood shifted dramatically.
Initially, everything seemed to go as planned, but when the counting of votes for the FKF National Executive Committee (NEC) began, cracks in their confidence started to show.
The numbers revealed a stunning turn of events: eight out of Mwendwa’s ten NEC candidates lost to Team Fresh, led by Hussein Mohammed.
“Hapa sasa ndio kizungumkuti ilianza,” remarked a source close to the process. Those seated near Mwendwa described him as visibly shaken, trembling quietly as the results came in.
By the time the presidential votes were counted, the once-celebratory atmosphere in Team Blue had all but evaporated.
Hussein Mohammed, the Extreme Sports honcho, clinched an early lead in the first round, forcing a runoff as no candidate achieved the required 50+1 majority.
The final blow came in the second round, where Hussein Mohammed secured a decisive victory with 67 votes, leaving Mwendwa’s camp in stunned silence.
Doris Petra, Mwendwa’s key ally and point woman, conceded defeat before the results were officially declared, acknowledging the end of their campaign’s hopes.
What left Mwendwa and his team in utter disbelief was the betrayal by more than 53 delegates who had previously endorsed their bid. A source close to Team Blue described the experience as devastating:
“It was one of the most disheartening moments. No one saw this coming. We were confident of victory after the branch polls a month ago. What shocked us even more ni kwamba we had given some of these delegates a Sh500,000 bribe just a week before the election and even promised them lucrative tenders in the national team if we won,” the anonymous source revealed.
A spot check by this writer a week before the polls revealed that Hussein Mohammed employed all possible means to sway supporters to his side.
Reports suggested that with the assistance of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Hussein leveraged his influence to convince delegates from the Nyanza and Western regions to back his bid alongside Mariga.
According to insiders, the delegates were disillusioned with Nick Mwendwa’s leadership, citing his alleged mismanagement of Kenyan football during his eight-year tenure.
