The CHAN quarter-finals are stirring more than just football fever. Kenyaโs Interior CS, Kipchumba Murkomen, has jumped into a friendly rivalry that adds colour to the tournamentโand to social mediaโby applauding Kenyan fans who snapped up tickets for Tanzaniaโs match against Morocco.
โI congratulate all Kenyans who have bought Tanzanian tickets. Please make sure you travel and go support Morocco at Benjamin Mkapa Stadium. I enjoy the banter between Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. If they keep mocking us, Iโd be very happy if the final ends up Kenya versus Tanzania in Nairobiโjust imagine!โ Murkomen, speaking at an APS Bomet fundraising event in Nairobi, said.
He added a Kiswahili twist that had fans laughing, joking, โTutacheza kwa Kingereza, game yetu,โ meaning โweโll play our game in Englishโ to throw off the opposition. His remark lit up social media and added spark to the friendly rivalry.
This is more than jest. It reflects how football unites East Africa in humour and pride. While Kenyaโs Harambee Stars take on Madagascar in Nairobi, Tanzania will face Morocco in Dar es Salaam. In both cities, fans are showing national spiritโsometimes in unexpected ways. The ticket twist shows how social media and shared rivalry can drive lively, regional engagement.
But beyond online banter, there is tension. Less than 24 hours after Murkomenโs comment, the Tanzanian government dismissed rumours that Kenyan fans had snapped up all tickets. A spokesperson assured supporters that no such action had blocked Tanzanian fans and urged them not to worry about access. โCome to the stadium gates and you will enter. There is enough space, so do not be afraid,โ he said.
Meanwhile, frustration from Kenyan fans is rising. Many couldn’t get tickets for Kenyaโs game against Madagascar due to glitches in the official ticketing system, Mookh. The site crashed under high demand and bot traffic, leaving many Kenyans without entry, even though seats were available for the TanzaniaโMorocco game.
This ticket saga shows how football in East Africa is about more than sportโitโs regional pride, community, and online culture. When Murkomen cheered Kenyan fans for buying Tanzanian tickets, it wasnโt just funโit was a rallying cry. It made Kenyans feel seen, hopeful and part of something bigger.
As the tournament heats up, this kind of lighthearted rivalry can keep spirits high while fans and communities rally behind their teams. Be it at stadiums or online, football brings people togetherโand sometimes gives them reasons to laugh and unite, even across borders.
Featured image via Screengrab