This archive report was first published on 26 October 2021.
On Mashujaa Day, President Uhuru Kenyatta lifted the dusk-to-dawn curfew, bringing joy to football fans who will now be allowed back into stadiums to watch matches.
Since March 2020, when the first Covid-19 case was reported in Kenya, the Kenyan Premier League has been played behind closed doors, with a few matches streamed live on television.
For teams like Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards, who rely heavily on gate collections, this period has been particularly challenging.
Jared Otieno, a self-proclaimed 'Commander of the Green Army' and ardent Gor Mahia fan, welcomed the news, saying, "Having many Gor branches is good for the growth of the game. It broadens the fan base."
"Having many Gor branches is good for the growth of the game. It broadens the fan base," said Jared Otieno, a self-proclaimed 'Commander of the Green Army' and ardent Gor Mahia fan. Isaac Juma, a die-hard AFC Leopards fan, expressed his excitement, saying, "I made most of my friends in the stadium during matches, but now we only meet online to discuss football matters. On weekends we did not have anything to do." "I made most of my friends in the stadium during matches, but now we only meet online to discuss football matters. On weekends we did not have anything to do," said Isaac Juma, a die-hard AFC Leopards fan. Praxides Jumba, a Bandari fan, also shared his enthusiasm, saying, "Attending matches is important, it relieves stress. We've been unable to go out and have fun with our football friends." "Attending matches is important, it relieves stress. We've been unable to go out and have fun with our football friends," said Praxides Jumba, a Bandari fan. For Inea Mukaisi, an AFC drumist, the pandemic has been particularly tough, forcing him to return to his rural home in Kakamega in 2020. He said, "The pandemic hit me hard. I didn't have crowd to perform to and I returned to the village. I got to a point where I could not pay house rent." "The pandemic hit me hard. I didn't have crowd to perform to and I returned to the village. I got to a point where I could not pay house rent," said Inea Mukaisi, an AFC drumist.
