Second Teen Arrested Over Disrespectful Handling of Kenya Flag at Nyayo Stadium

Nairobi, Kenya — September 25, 2025 (EAT).

A second teenager has been arrested in connection with the viral incident in which Kenya’s national flag was desecrated during a football match at Nyayo Stadium earlier this month, officials confirmed. 

The Incident & Arrests

• The first arrest was of a 17-year-old, Ibrahim Haidar Yusuf, who was detained after video footage showed him and others stomping on the flag. 

• On Thursday, 14-year-old Muhidin Ahmed Abukar was arrested as the second suspect. 

• According to the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI), both minors have been processed and are awaiting further legal action. 

• The incident occurred on September 20, 2025, during a CAF Champions League match between Mogadishu City Club and Kenya Police FC. 

Legal & Political Fallout

• The act violates Section 2B of the National Flag, Emblem & Names Act, Cap 99, which criminalizes actions showing disrespect to the national flag or emblem. 

• Interior CS Kipchumba Murkomen had ordered swift arrests, prosecutions, and even deportation if the suspects were foreign nationals. 

• IG Police Douglas Kanja directed the DCI to act rapidly, underlining that the Kenyan flag must be protected from such insults. 

Broader Reactions & Implications

• Somalia’s Ambassador to Kenya, Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, publicly denounced the incident, signaling diplomatic sensitivity given the involvement of a Mogadishu club. 

• Widespread public outrage followed the video’s circulation, with many calling for firm legal action to deter disrespect of national symbols.

• The case raises questions about stadium security, crowd control, and the capacity to enforce laws during high-profile sporting events.