A commanding 3-1 victory for Kenya Police FC in their CAF Champions League preliminary match against Somalia’s Mogadishu City Club was severely overshadowed Saturday night by ugly scenes of disorder, as viral videos captured visiting fans blatantly desecrating the Kenyan flag, sparking national outrage.
The match at Nairobi’s Nyayo National Stadium, intended to be a celebration of continental football, degenerated into what many Kenyans online condemned as a “brazen spit on diplomacy.” While the home team secured a decisive win, the post-match discourse shifted entirely to acts of disrespect that have ignited a firestorm on social media and raised questions about stadium security.
Viral Videos Spark Fury
Multiple videos circulating on platforms like TikTok and X (formerly Twitter) show a series of inflammatory acts by a section of Mogadishu City supporters. One well-choreographed clip shows a fan in a traditional Somali sarong walking up to a Kenya Police FC supporter, snatching his Kenyan flag, and tossing it to the ground with nonchalance.
A more graphic video shows two Mogadishu fans taking turns mocking the national symbol; one spreads the flag on the ground and kicks it into the air, while his companion grabs it mid-flight and rubs it against his crotch, both erupting in laughter.
Further evidence of tensions emerged from another clip showing a commotion that erupted when a Mogadishu fan attempted to raise the Somali flag amidst a group of Kenyan supporters. The situation escalated quickly as some Kenyans grabbed the Somali flag, leading to a brief altercation.
National Outrage and Calls for Accountability
The response from Kenyans was swift and furious. Sports journalist Tony Kwalanda voiced the sentiment of many, stating, “The flag of Kenya is being mocked, shredded, misused and abused by Mogadishu FC fans at Nyayo Stadium in Nairobi. When did we get here?”
Another angered citizen wrote online, “This is bad manners and disrespect to our nation… I hope this mf has been deported back to somalia!” The acts were widely perceived as a direct insult to the nation’s dignity.
Despite the anger, some voices urged against generalizing the behaviour to the entire Somali community in Kenya. Mohamed Abdikheyr posted on X: “This is not representative of the average Somali. Sisi hatukuwangi hivi (We are not usually like this). These boys should be disciplined and banned from future matches. Football is not about this sort of behaviour.”
The Legal Repercussions
The incidents have legal implications beyond social media condemnation. Kenya’s National Flag, Emblems and Names Act (Cap. 99) specifically safeguards the flag from disrespect. While the Constitution recognizes it as a national symbol, Cap. 99 criminalizes the insult or abuse of the flag or other national emblems. Offenders are liable to a fine of up to Ksh 5,000, six months in jail, or both, raising questions about whether the individuals involved will be identified and prosecuted.
The controversy erupted despite Mogadishu City FC having rallied significant support from the Somali community in Kenya through an aggressive promotional drive ahead of the match.
As the two teams are set to meet again in the return leg this Sunday at the same venue, all eyes will be not only on the pitch but also on the terraces, with authorities under pressure to ensure that the beautiful game does not again become a stage for national disrespect.
