Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has weighed in on the lighthearted football rivalry between Kenya and Tanzania as both nations prepare for the African Nations Championship (CHAN) quarter-finals.
The online banter has intensified after all three co-hosts Kenya, Tanzania, and Uganda secured their spots in the last eight, with fans trading memes, playful digs, and bold predictions.
Kenya is set to face Madagascar on Friday at Kasarani Stadium, while Tanzania will take on two-time champions Morocco at the Benjamin Mkapa Stadium.
Unconfirmed online reports suggest that some Kenyan fans have bought tickets for the Tanzania vs. Morocco clash to support the North African side and deny local fans access.
It was in this context that CS Murkomen made a tongue-in-cheek remark, congratulating Kenyans who had reportedly bought tickets to the Tanzania game.
“Please make sure you travel and go and support Morocco at Benjamin Mkapa,” he said. Murkomen’s playful comments were made during a fund drive for the Kenyan Premier League team APS Bomet.
The CS’s remarks reflect the humorous atmosphere surrounding the tournament, which has united East Africans while also sparking competitive online exchanges.
He expressed his hope for an all-East African final between Kenya and Tanzania in Nairobi. “Just imagine!” he said. Murkomen added a humorous Kiswahili twist to his remarks, saying, “Tutacheza kwa Kingereza, game yetu,” which translates to “We will play our game in English,” a quip that fueled the social media banter even further.
The ticket portal crash that hindered Kenyans from purchasing tickets for their team’s match against Madagascar also fueled their anger, leading to a few purchasing tickets for the Tanzania versus Morocco match. With the quarter-finals about to begin, attention will now turn to the pitch.
Whether Kenya and Tanzania will meet in a dream final remains to be seen, but for now, the banter continues to be as fierce as the football itself.
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