Patmoz
By Njeri Irungu
Nairobi, September 25, 2025 — Kenyans have received with mixed feelings the statement issued by the Somali Ambassador to Kenya, H.E. Jabril Ibrahim Abdulie, following the recent football unrest. While we acknowledge his words of regret and condemnation of violence, we cannot ignore the deep anger and emotional pain caused by the actions of Mogadishu City Club fans who desecrated our national flag and harassed our women.
For Kenyans, the flag is more than a piece of cloth. It is a sacred symbol of our independence, our struggles, and our unity as a people. Watching young men kick, trample, and insult the Kenyan flag has cut deep into our national pride. Such acts cannot be dismissed as the behavior of a few misguided individuals — they strike at the heart of who we are as a nation.
Even more disturbing are the accounts of Kenyan women being harassed during the match. No community should ever tolerate the humiliation of its women, and no apology can erase the fear, trauma, and anger that such acts have left behind. Respect for women is non-negotiable, and any assault on their dignity is an assault on the whole nation.
Kenyans are a hospitable people. We have stood shoulder to shoulder with Somalia through decades of hardship, hosting hundreds of thousands of Somali refugees, supporting peace processes, and opening our schools, hospitals, and businesses to our neighbors. That is why these actions feel like a betrayal of our generosity and friendship.
We hear the ambassador’s words about brotherhood and partnership, but we also ask: where is accountability? Where is justice for the insult to our flag, and for the Kenyan women who suffered harassment? Without concrete action to address these wrongs, words will ring hollow.
We demand:
A clear apology to the people of Kenya, not just diplomatic regrets.
Concrete measures by Somali authorities and club officials to discipline those responsible.
Assurances that such acts will never be repeated on Kenyan soil.
Kenya values peace and neighborly relations, but peace must be built on respect. Football should unite, not divide. True brotherhood is shown not in statements, but in action.
Until then, Kenyans will continue to feel the weight of anger, hurt, and betrayal — because our dignity, our symbols, and our women deserve nothing less than full respect.
