17-year-old Mogadishu City Club fan caught desecrating Kenyan flag arrested
The suspect, identified as Ibrahim Haidar Yusuf, was among two individuals caught on camera desecrating the flag in an incident that has sparked national outrage.
The Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) has arrested a 17-year-old captured desecrating the Kenyan national flag during last weekend’s CAF Champions League clash between Kenya Police FC and Mogadishu City FC at Nyayo Stadium.
The suspect, identified as Ibrahim Haidar Yusuf, was among two individuals caught on camera desecrating the flag in an incident that has sparked national outrage.
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In a statement on Thursday, DCI said Ibrahim has been placed in custody following the circulation of viral videos showing him and another individual insulting the flag during the September 20, 2025, match.
The incident occurred on September 20, 2025, when Mogadishu fans were filmed stomping on, kicking and mishandling the national flag during the match, which Kenya Police won 3–1.
One video shows a fan spreading the flag on the ground before kicking it into the air, while another grabs it mid-flight and rubs it against his crotch as both laugh. In a separate clip, a Mogadishu supporter wearing a traditional Somali sarong snatches a Kenyan flag from a Police FC fan and tosses it to the ground.
The acts triggered an immediate uproar both at the stadium and on social media, with many Kenyans describing the behaviour as a “blatant act of disrespect.”
Sports journalist Tony Kwalanda wrote, “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?”
Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen, while speaking in Wajir during the Jukwaa la Usalama Forum, ordered swift action against the culprits.
“Hatutakubali mtu yeyote, iwe Mkenya ama mgeni, kucheza na uhuru wetu and our symbols of national unity, including our national flag. So, bwana IG, take the necessary legal action. Let the law take its course. As a Ministry of Interior, we must show the world that we take our national flag seriously,” Murkomen said.
He also warned that foreigners who disrespect Kenya’s sovereignty will not be tolerated.
“Being in Kenya is a privilege, and when you play around with our instruments of national unity, you lose the privilege to live in our country. Ama mnataka wageni wachezee bendera yetu? Eti wanakanyaga na kuchoma na kuchezea? That is a flag that was won by sweat and blood,” he added.
Inspector General of Police Douglas Kanja confirmed that the DCI had been directed to arrest the suspects.
“I have already directed the DCI, ya kwamba huyo mtu anakanyaga bendera yetu ya Kenya…bendera ile ilipiganiwa hapa mpaka tukapata uhuru wetu…hiyo anatuchezea na hatuwezi kubali kamwe. The DCI is under direct instructions from the IG that he must move with speed with efficiency to ensure that the man is arrested and taken before a court of law. Bendera yetu lazima iheshimiwe,” he said.
Section 2B of the National Flag, Emblems and Names Act (Cap. 99) states that any person who shows disrespect, in speech, manner or writing, to the National Anthem, the flag, or any specified national emblem commits an offence. The law prescribes a penalty of up to six months’ imprisonment, a fine not exceeding Sh5,000, or both.
Somalia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, condemned the incident, terming it regrettable.
“Let me state clearly we regret and firmly condemn the actions of a few individuals whose behaviour has overshadowed the remarkable performances of both teams,” he said, adding that Somali authorities are investigating the matter.
The incident comes against the backdrop of historically tense relations between Kenya and Somalia, dating back to Somalia’s independence in 1960 and the subsequent Shifta War (1963–1967). While the two nations have maintained diplomatic ties, episodes of hostility have periodically strained relations.
Kenya Police FC’s 3–1 victory in the Saturday clash was overshadowed by the controversy, even as Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo congratulated the team, saying, “Congratulations to Police FC for their 3–1 victory over Mogadishu City Club in the CAF Champions League preliminaries at Nyayo Stadium. This decisive win marks a brighter beginning for the team as they step confidently into continental football.”
The return leg of the fixture is scheduled for Sunday at Nyayo Stadium, with authorities expected to maintain tight security both on the pitch and in the stands.
Meanwhile, the DCI has confirmed that efforts to apprehend the second suspect, who is believed to still be in the country, are ongoing.
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