KPL record 21-time champions Gor
Mahia have confirmed Kasarani Stadium as the venue of the “Mashemeji Derby”
against their arch-rivals, AFC Leopards on Sunday, May 11, 2025.
K'Ogalo officials, led by newly
elected Vice Chair Sally Bolo, Secretary General Nick Arum, and Treasurer
Gerphas Okuku, visited the stadium in readiness for the biggest fixture in
Kenyan football.
The visit was followed by a post on
Gor Mahia’s official X page that read, “All set for the big match,” accompanied
by pictures of the club officials at the playing ground.
The 97th edition of the Mashemeji
Derby comes a week after another high-risk clash between Gor Mahia and Shabana
FC at Gusii Stadium, and K'Ogalo will be hoping to ensure everything runs
smoothly.
This is after the clash at Gusii
Stadium on Sunday, 4 May 2025, left over 72 fans injured—some badly and
hospitalised—following violent scenes and a stampede that saw the match delayed
by over 30 minutes.
Given the number of fans the two
community clubs, K'Ogalo and Ingwe, command, Gor promised to avoid a repeat of
the same through proper coordination between police, private security, and
stewards from both clubs and the Football Kenya Federation.
“We are working overtime to host a
great clash against our arch-rivals in a conducive environment safe for all
fans, players, and officials. Ticketing
information will be delivered this week after security meetings with police,
Leopards, and the FKF,” said a club statement.
This will be the first match to be
hosted at the 60,000-seater stadium, which was undergoing an upgrade in
preparation for the 2025 African Nations Championship (CHAN) tournament and the
2027 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON).
The contractor has completed the
upgrading works at the facility, which will now be ready for use.
CHAN Local Organizing Committee Chairman
Nicholas Musonye has earlier warned the two clubs to behave when using the
facility or face a ban altogether if their fans engage in vandalism and
property damage.
The Mashemeji Derby will also serve
as a test match to assess Kenya's preparations for the continental tourney.
This comes shortly after another
successful test match between the two rivals at Nyayo National Stadium that
ended in a barren draw on 30 March 2025.
K'Ogalo, who are chasing their
record-extending 22nd FKF Premier League title, are currently second on the KPL
table with 53 points, two behind league leaders Kenya Police, while Ingwe are
sixth with 42 points with five matches to go.
