The "Digital army" has struck again. Moments after English League One side Charlton Athletic announced the signing of Harambee Stars defender Collins Sichenje, their social media pages were invaded by a swarm of Kenyan fans making demands that ranged from the patriotic to the downright hilarious.

It is a ritual now: whenever a Kenyan player moves abroad, the club’s admin is introduced to the unique humor of #KOT (Kenyans on Twitter). For Charlton, the culture shock was immediate. The post welcoming the 22-year-old former AFC Leopards defender was flooded with comments demanding that he be given a steady diet of "omena and ugali" to maintain his strength, and that he be handed the captain's armband immediately—never mind that he hasn't kicked a ball yet.

The Demands List

The engagement numbers on the club’s page skyrocketed, a testament to the country’s hunger for footballing success. But it was the specificity of the requests that stood out.

• The Diet: Fans insisted that English cuisine would not suffice. "Has he taken some arrowroots, yams, cassava and sweet potatoes?" asked one fan, Martin Mwangi. "We'll be back for the supper recipe."
• The Authority: "Give him the keys to the stadium," demanded Benson Muturi. Another user, Vitalizo KE, declared, "We have landed... Our boy is in demand of ugali omena on a daily basis."
• The Aesthetics: Several fans petitioned the club to change their official profile picture to Sichenje’s face, arguing it was the only way to truly honor his arrival.

A Serious Talent

Beneath the banter lies a genuine pride. Sichenje’s journey from Kakamega High School’s "Green Commandos" to AFC Leopards, then to AIK in Sweden, and now to Charlton, represents the dream of every young Kenyan footballer. His move adds him to the growing list of Kenyan talent breaking into competitive European leagues.

The "hilarious demands" are a protective mechanism—a way for fans to say, "Take care of him, he is one of ours." Charlton Athletic may have signed a defender, but they have inadvertently signed a nation of digital bodyguards. As Sichenje settles into London life, he does so knowing that if the club canteen doesn't serve ugali, thousands of keyboards will be ready to lodge a formal complaint.