Wajir, Kenya — Kenya’s Interior and National Administration Cabinet Secretary, Kipchumba Murkomen, has issued a sharp warning after videos surfaced showing fans trampling on the national flag during a football match.
Speaking in Wajir during the 45th Jukwaa La Usalama tour, Mr Murkomen reminded Kenyans that desecrating the country’s symbols of unity is a criminal offence.
“Many people don’t know that there is the National Flag, Emblems and Names Act,” he said. “I urge the Inspector General of Police to ensure the law takes its course.”
The Act regulates the use of the country’s national symbols, including the flag, emblems, names, and likenesses. Violations can attract legal penalties.
The warning comes after videos circulated online showing unruly fans stomping on the Kenyan flag and kicking it around during last Saturday’s CAF Champions League clash between Kenya Police FC and an opponent yet to be officially identified.
The footage sparked outrage on social media, with many Kenyans calling the act a deep insult to national pride.
Mr Murkomen framed the incident as a reminder of the importance of protecting symbols that bind the nation together. “The flag and other emblems are not just pieces of cloth or designs,” he said. “They represent our unity and identity as a people.”
Critics of the fans’ behaviour argue that public ignorance of the law often leads to such incidents. Others, however, caution that the state’s response must balance enforcement with public education.
For now, the government’s message is clear: Kenya’s national symbols are not to be toyed with.
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