FKF President Hussein Admits Challenges in Fight Against Match Fixing

Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohamed has conceded that Kenya continues to face serious difficulties in eliminating match fixing, pointing to inadequate funding, weak infrastructure and limited institutional capacity as major hurdles in combating the vice.

His comments come amid growing claims of match manipulation within the Kenyan Premier League, particularly after several coaches openly acknowledged that the problem is deeply rooted in the domestic game.

Addressing the media on Friday, Hussein admitted that the federation is grappling with structural limitations that make it difficult to effectively investigate and punish offenders.

“Without sufficient resources, proper infrastructure and a well-defined development plan, it becomes extremely challenging to address match-fixing and bridge capacity gaps,” Hussein explained.

He emphasised that greater financial investment in football would significantly enhance the federation’s ability to deal with corruption and other systemic challenges affecting the sport.

“Once resources begin flowing consistently into football, we will be in a better position to resolve many of the issues hindering football development,” he added.

Growing Pressure from Stakeholders

Criticism has been mounting from stakeholders who believe the federation has been slow in conclusively handling match-fixing allegations. At present, there is no widely publicised case that has been fully determined, with some investigations reportedly stretching beyond five years without clear outcomes.

On the prevention front, FKF has largely focused on sensitisation campaigns, including displaying anti-match-fixing messages on pitch-side banners during league matches. However, many observers argue that awareness alone is insufficient without decisive disciplinary action.

Hussein maintained that mechanisms have been established to respond to integrity-related concerns but reiterated the importance of attracting more fans, investors and sponsors to strengthen the overall football ecosystem.

The debate intensified after former Tusker head coach Charles Okere publicly stated that match fixing is widespread in the league, describing it as a troubling trend. His remarks were echoed by Sofapaka coach Abdalla Juma and Kakamega Homeboyz tactician Patrick Odhiambo, both of whom alluded to manipulation within the local game.

This season, a string of high-profile goalkeeping mistakes has further fuelled suspicion among fans, increasing calls for thorough investigations.

With pressure continuing to build, stakeholders are demanding firmer action, faster probes and transparent resolutions to rebuild trust and credibility in Kenyan football.