Extreme Sports CEO Hussein Mohammed has filed a defamation lawsuit against Football Kenya Federation (FKF) CEO Barry Otieno. The suit arises from a letter Otieno wrote in March, which barred Hussein from representing Murang’a Seal at the aborted FKF Annual General Meeting (AGM).
Otieno’s letter stated that Hussein was ineligible to represent the club based on the registration documents presented during the club licensing process. According to Gedi and Associates Advocates, representing Hussein, the contents of the letter were malicious and defamatory, damaging Hussein’s reputation in grassroots football development, youth empowerment, and anti-drug and substance abuse efforts.
“The effect of the letter was that Hussein Mohammed was subjected to public odium, ridicule, mockery and contempt. His reputation was greatly damaged owing to the immense contribution he has made in grassroot football development, youth empowerment and the fight against drug and substance abuse,” reads part of the lawsuit.
The lawsuit claims the letter was intended to discredit Hussein’s ambitions to run for office at FKF by portraying him as dishonest, incompetent, unethical, and untrustworthy. Hussein is seeking general damages, aggravated, and exemplary damages for the harm caused to his reputation, as well as a public apology, which has not been tendered.
The conflict escalated at the AGM when Otieno barred Hussein from attending, insisting he did not qualify to represent Murang’a Seal. Otieno’s letter noted that Murang’a Seal is registered as Murang’a Sports Excellence Academy Limited with Robert Kenneth Wanyoike Macharia as the sole director, making Hussein ineligible to represent the club.
The AGM, initially scheduled for March 16 to set the date for the FKF elections, was halted by a High Court in Mombasa, leading to further uncertainty regarding the polls.
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