Kenyan football continues to battle hooliganism, a menace that has led to violent pitch invasions, attacks on referees, destruction of property, and a loss of credibility in the sport.Time and again, critical matches have been marred by fan violence, often triggered by disputed refereeing decisions, poor security measures, and heightened emotions.Football Kenya Federation (FKF) National Executive Committee member and chair of the FKF Leagues and Competitions Committee, Peter Kamau Kass Kass, acknowledges that the federation must take firm action—not just against violent fans but also against officials whose questionable decisions fuel tensions.##NAJAVA_MECA_8789756##He insists that tackling hooliganism head-on is crucial to maintaining the integrity of Kenyan football.Kamau spoke to Mozzart Sport following the verdict on the disrupted Mozzart Bet Cup match between Mara Sugar and AFC Leopards, where Mara were awarded a bye to the next round after the FKF Committee found Leopards guilty of failing to control their fans.Despite serving for less than 100 days in his current role, Kamau has already handled over ten hooliganism-related cases, ranging from the lower-tier leagues to the top-flight division.The Mara Sugar FC vs AFC Leopards match in Kisumu is at risk of being abandoned after a controversial penalty, initially awarded to Leopards and then cancelled, led to fans invading the pitch.#FootballKE pic.twitter.com/YJT1v5TOBj— Ole Teya (@TeyaKevin) March 8, 2025 Due to this worrying trend, he has issued a stern warning to clubs and fans planning to cause disturbances in upcoming fixtures.“Hooliganism not only threatens the safety of fans, players, and officials but also damages the reputation and commercial viability of football. A strong matchday safety policy, strict enforcement of laws, and a proactive approach from clubs, federations, and law enforcement are crucial,” said the former Shabana forward.AFC Leopards expelled from Mozzart Bet CupKenyan football has witnessed some severe cases of hooliganism, and even the country’s biggest fixture, the Mashemeji Derby, has not been spared.In August 2021, the clash between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards at Kasarani Stadium turned chaotic after the referee awarded Gor Mahia a controversial late penalty.The match was tied at 1-1 in added time when the referee pointed to the spot after what many saw as minimal contact in the box. Gor Mahia converted the penalty, sealing a dramatic 2-1 victory.Furious Leopards fans stormed the pitch, forcing police officers to intervene with tear gas. Players and match officials fled as chairs and water bottles were hurled onto the field.Where to watch Gambia vs Harambee Stars FIFA World Cup qualifierEnraged supporters vandalized sections of the stadium, causing property damage worth thousands of shillings. FKF fined AFC Leopards Ksh. 6 million and ordered them to play their next home match behind closed doors. However, no individual fans were arrested, and no disciplinary action was taken against the referee, despite widespread criticism of his decision-making.Another ugly scene unfolded on May 28, 2023, at Nyayo National Stadium during an FKF Cup semifinal between AFC Leopards and Kakamega Homeboyz.##NAJAVA_MECA_8790145##The match ended in a tense 1-0 victory for Homeboyz, with the only goal coming in the 89th minute. A series of controversial decisions, including a disallowed goal and a penalty appeal that was ignored, left Leopards fans fuming.At the final whistle, furious supporters broke through security barriers, charging toward the referee and match officials.Security struggled to contain them, and police were forced to fire tear gas to disperse the crowd. Some fans were arrested but were later released without charges. No action was taken against the referee, despite allegations that his decisions played a role in escalating tensions.Kenya is a maaaaaaad country. During game ya Bandari na Zoo FC, an armed man threatened to shoot a Bandari FC player. As in, this guy had a gun. In the stadium. He got on the pitch and wanted to whip it out and shoot a player. KWA PITCH! What is this country? Sicario?? pic.twitter.com/Ku2DdC93U5— Shoba Gatimu (@shobanes) September 17, 2018 Hooliganism has also affected lower-tier leagues. In August 2022, a National Super League match between Shabana FC and Murang’a Seal at Gusii Stadium ended in chaos. With the game tied at 1-1 in the 90th minute, Shabana fans were eager for a draw.However, a controversial stoppage-time goal for Murang’a Seal sparked outrage. Feeling cheated, fans stormed the pitch and physically attacked the referee.Michael Olunga revels in Benni McCarthy’s young Harambee Stars squadSecurity rushed to intervene, but the official had already suffered blows to his head and required medical attention. Despite the severity of the incident, FKF failed to impose significant sanctions on Shabana, and no lifetime bans or arrests were made, even with clear video evidence of the violence.More recently, on March 2, 2024, Nzoia Sugar hosted FKF Premier League twelve times champions Tusker FC at Sudi Stadium in Bungoma. Tusker took an early 2-0 lead, but the second half was marred by questionable refereeing.A Nzoia goal was disallowed, followed by a soft penalty awarded to Tusker, which they converted to make it 3-0. As the match wound down, furious Nzoia fans pelted the field with stones and plastic bottles.##NAJAVA_MECA_8789875##The violence escalated after the final whistle, with some supporters attempting to attack the referees, forcing police to escort them out of the stadium. Despite the dangerous scenes, no serious action was taken, further highlighting FKF’s failure to deal with hooliganism decisively.Former AFC Leopards defender and current Kona Rangers head coach Erick Masika believes that hooliganism is a cancer slowly eating away at Kenyan football. “If left unchecked, it could lead to dire consequences. Players, referees, and match officials are constantly at risk of being attacked, making stadiums unsafe,” he told Mozzart Sport. Fans chased out of Gusii Stadium after a fight broke out between two groups. Koderobara 0-1 Musingu High School #FootballKE pic.twitter.com/4bQr5w89DL— Ole Teya (@TeyaKevin) August 6, 2024 Masika also warned that hooliganism is pushing away potential investors. “No serious sponsor wants to be associated with a league where fan violence is the norm. If we don’t act now, we’ll continue losing valuable opportunities to grow the game,” he added.Beyond fan violence, Masika noted the need for accountability among match officials. “While hooliganism is unacceptable, we must also address the root cause. Many referees make blatant errors that incite fans, yet FKF rarely takes action against them. If a referee consistently makes poor decisions, they should be investigated and, if necessary, suspended,” he said.
