Police have arrested a 17-year-old boy accused of desecrating Kenya’s national flag during a football match in Nairobi.
In a statement on Thursday, the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) confirmed that Ibrahim Haidar Yusuf, who was among two suspects wanted in connection with the incident, is in custody.
The suspects were filmed disrespecting the national flag, an act authorities say is unlawful and offensive to national values.
The incident occurred on September 20, 2025, at Nyayo Stadium during a match between Mogadishu City Club and Police FC.
Police said efforts are ongoing to trace and arrest the second suspect, who is believed to still be in the country.
In viral videos, fans were seen desecrating the Kenyan flag—trampling it, throwing it on the ground, and rubbing it against their bodies.
The acts sparked widespread outrage, with many calling for swift legal action.
Article 9 of the Constitution of Kenya lists the national flag, the anthem, the coat of arms, and the public seal as national symbols of the Republic. These symbols are not just decorative but represent sovereignty, unity, and identity.
According to Section 2B of the National Flag, Emblems and Names Act (Cap 99), any person who shows disrespect to the national flag, anthem, or specified emblems in speech, writing, or manner commits an offence.
“Any person who shows disrespect, in speech, manner, or writing, to or with reference to the National Anthem, or to any specified emblem (including the National Flag)… shall be guilty of an offence and liable to a fine not exceeding five thousand shillings or to imprisonment for a term not exceeding six months, or to both,” the section states.
Ibrahim’s arrest comes a day after Somalia’s ambassador to Kenya, Jabril Ibrahim Abdulle, condemned the acts, terming them regrettable and contrary to the spirit of friendship between the two countries.
“Let me state clearly that we regret and firmly condemn the action of a few individuals whose behavior overshadowed the remarkable performances of our two teams,” the ambassador said.