Kenya’s exit from the 2026 World Cup qualifiers was marred by controversy after a group of fans were captured on video trampling on a scarf bearing the national flag at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
The Harambee Stars fell 3–1 to Gambia, a result that ended their hopes of progressing, but it was the post-match behaviour of the supporters that has provoked widespread condemnation.
The footage, which quickly spread across social media, shows several fans throwing the Kenyan flag to the ground and stepping on it in frustration.
Many Kenyans reacted with anger, describing the incident as a betrayal of national pride.
“We defend our flag with our lives. To see it treated this way is shameful,” one social media user wrote.
Under Kenyan law, the flag is protected as a national symbol.
The National Flag, Emblems and Names Act prohibits its improper use, desecration or insult, with penalties including fines and possible imprisonment.
Stepping on the Kenyan flag may amount to a criminal offence under the National Flag, Emblems and Names Act (Cap. 99), which prohibits any act that shows disrespect to the flag. Offenders are liable to a fine of up to 5,000 shillings, imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or both.
The individuals involved in the Kasarani incident could face prosecution if identified and arrested.
In other countries, disrespecting the flag can carry even harsher consequences. In Singapore, defacing or insulting the flag can result in heavy fines and jail terms. In Nigeria, desecration of the national flag is punishable by law and often treated as an attack on the dignity of the state.
In the United States, by contrast, flag burning is legally protected as free speech, though it remains deeply controversial.
The incident has reignited debate in Kenya about patriotism, accountability, and how far fans should be allowed to go in expressing frustration.
