Lawyer and political commentator Willis Otieno has urged Kenyans to strike a balance between celebrating sporting success and demanding good governance.

Taking to his official X account in the wee hours of Tuesday, August 19, 2025, Otieno said true patriotism goes beyond “blind cheerleading”, stressing that Kenyans must balance national pride with a demand for accountability.

Otieno further noted that while Kenyans have every reason to celebrate Harambee Stars’ resilience and progress during the ongoing African Nations Championship (CHAN), the country cannot afford to ignore the socio-political and economic challenges that continue to burden ordinary citizens.

“Yes, we will celebrate Harambee Stars; they’ve made the nation proud. But we will also call out bad governance, because patriotism is not blind cheerleading. True love for country means applauding excellence on the pitch while demanding accountability in leadership. We can, and must, do both as a nation,” Otieno stated.

Harambee Stars’ impressive run

His remarks come at a time when Harambee Stars’ impressive run in the CHAN tournament has captured the imagination of football fans across the country, uniting Kenyans in celebration.

Kenyans have been turning out in large numbers to cheer on the Harambee Stars at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, leading to ticketing challenges.

The ticketing challenges sparked outrage earlier in the week after long queues and delays were reported at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, which saw thousands of football fans overpowering security personnel to access the stadium without valid tickets.

This is after they unsuccessfully tried to buy the tickets that had been indicated as sold out on CAF’s official ticketing website shortly after they were announced.

CAF fines FKF

As a result, the CAF Disciplinary Board charged the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) with multiple safety and security breaches during Kenya’s CAF African Nations Championship (CHAN) match against Morocco at Kasarani.

During the particular match played on Sunday, August 10, 2025, ticketless fans overpowered security agencies at the Kasarani Stadium and forced themselves into the stadium against the guidelines of CAF on security and safety at CHAN 2024. CAF also warned against the use of tear gas at match venues.

“The Disciplinary Board found Kenya guilty and imposed a fine of USD 50,000 (Ksh6.4 million) on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, on Kenya’s football governing body, FKF. Kenya was warned that continued failure to meet CAF safety and security requirements may lead to the relocation of Kenya’s National Team matches to an alternative venue. Kenya was advised to increase security measures by deploying sufficient personnel within the perimeter of the stadium, as well as adhering to the road closures on match days,” CAF said in a statement.

In response to curbing overcrowding, FKF, in conjunction with the CHAN 2024 Local Organising Committee, urged Kenyan football fans to abide by CAF regulations to avoid attracting stiffer penalties.