24/08/2026
The violence after the FKF Super Cup between Tusker and Gor Mahia at Nyayo Stadium on August 23, 2026 should not be reduced to simply blaming Gor Mahia fans or the police. Tusker won 3–1, after which supporters entered the pitch, the trophy presentation was disrupted, and confrontations involving fans, security officers and journalists were reported. FKF has announced an investigation.
Who should be blamed?
1. Individual fans who invaded the pitch and destroyed property
They carry direct responsibility for breaking stadium rules and creating disorder. Supporting a club does not give anyone the right to attack people, invade restricted areas or damage property.
2. Security personnel, if excessive force is established
There are serious allegations concerning the use of tear gas and confrontations with fans and journalists. These allegations must be independently investigated rather than automatically dismissed as normal crowd control.
3. Match organisers and FKF
FKF and the organisers also have a responsibility to ensure adequate crowd segregation, stewarding, exit routes and a clear post-match security plan. The fact that the disturbance reached the trophy-presentation area raises legitimate questions about the effectiveness of the security operation.
4. Both clubs have a responsibility to their supporters
Gor Mahia and Tusker should actively educate supporters on acceptable behaviour and cooperate with authorities in identifying individuals responsible. But collective punishment of an entire fan base should be avoided where individual accountability is possible.
What needs to be done?
-Conduct an independent investigation, using stadium CCTV, broadcast footage, journalists' recordings and match officials' reports.
-Establish individual responsibility—whether the person is a fan, steward, club official or security officer.
-Hold people accountable through due process, rather than making assumptions based on club affiliation.
-Review Nyayo's match-security plan before another major fixture is hosted there.
-Improve stewarding and crowd separation, particularly around the pitch and trophy-presentation area.
-Create a proper protocol for dealing with disorder that prioritises de-escalation and protects players, fans and journalists.
-Clubs should strengthen supporter-management programmes, including identifiable supporter leaders who can help calm crowds.
-Protect journalists' right to work. Reports that journalists were confronted or pressured over their recordings deserve particular scrutiny.
The most important point is this: football violence cannot be solved by choosing one side to blame. Fans must take responsibility for hooliganism, security officers must be accountable for unlawful or excessive conduct, and FKF and match organisers must answer for failures in planning and crowd management.
FKF has already said it will review footage, match officials' reports and information from stakeholders. The credibility of the response will depend on whether that investigation is transparent and whether it holds every responsible individual—not an entire club or fan base—accountable.
