Orengo: I'm a Real Madrid fan, but I support Arsenal because of Baba

Siaya Governor James Orengo/SCREENGRAB

Siaya Governor James Orengo has clarified his football loyalty after viral photos showed him wearing an Arsenal jersey.

Speaking during an interview with media personality Oga Obinna, Orengo was asked to explain the photos that circulated online showing him in red-and-white Arsenal attire.

The jersey, which had the word “Baba” printed on the back, sparked public curiosity among football fans.

Responding to the question, the governor acknowledged that while he is fundamentally a Real Madrid supporter, his connection to the English Premier League side Arsenal FC is influenced by his political and personal association with the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, widely known by his supporters as “Baba.”

“I’m a Real Madrid fan. That’s my team,” Orengo said during the interview.

“But for the Premier League, and because of my association with Baba, I happen to support Arsenal.”

Raila was widely recognised as a passionate Arsenal FC fan.

His family and allies have often highlighted Raila’s deep connection to football.

His brother, Oburu Odinga, previously noted that Raila was a devoted Arsenal supporter and an active patron of Gor Mahia, reflecting his broader love for the sport beyond politics.

“Raila was a great lover of football. Arsenal was his team. He was also a patron of Gor Mahia Football Club,” Oburu once said, underscoring the late former Prime Minister’s long-standing engagement with the game.

Their victory drew a wave of reactions from Kenyan football fans, underscoring how European football has become deeply embedded in the country’s public imagination and continues to command attention across social and political spaces in ways few cultural imports ever have.

Fans across Kenya, alongside several political leaders who openly follow the English Premier League, shared their thoughts online, turning Arsenal’s triumph into a national talking point.

President William Ruto, a self-declared Arsenal supporter, did not offer a routine congratulatory message.

Instead, his statement read more like a reflection on a long journey of struggle and resurgence than a single season’s success.

“It has been quite an experience to follow Arsenal Football Club’s epic adventure, from times of struggle and crushing setback, to successive seasons of recovery and resurgence on their glorious path to the summit of the English Premier League,” he wrote.

His remarks mirrored the sentiments of Kenyan supporters who have followed the club through years of near misses, rebuilding phases, and renewed ambition.

For them, the title win felt both emotional and symbolic, representing persistence finally rewarded after a long wait.