Lawanda Pingree
Eight Arsenal supporters from Eldoret found themselves in court after wild celebrations following the club’s historic Premier League title victor The fans admitted to charges of drunkenness and causing public disturbance after Arsenal ended a 22-year wait for the EPL trophy. Magistrate Daniel Sitati questioned why Kenyan youth passionately support foreign clubs while paying little attention to local football teams TUKO.co.ke journalist Harry Ivan Mboto has five years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya
Arsenal’s long-awaited Premier League triumph sparked massive celebrations across Kenya, but for eight fans in Eldoret, the excitement ended in court.
Arsenal fans celebrating the club’s premier league win. Photo: Screengrab.
Source: UGC The eight supporters were each fined KSh 500 after pleading guilty to charges of drunkenness and creating disturbance during jubilant street celebrations following Arsenal’s historic 2025/26 league title victory.
The fans appeared before Eldoret Senior Principal Magistrate Daniel Sitati, where they admitted to the offences linked to the chaotic celebrations in Kimumu estate.
Those arraigned included David Kipchumba, James Mwangi, Peter Nyaucho, Omar Olentimama, Jesse Murei, Vincent Amoke, Peter Wambua and Gilbert Kurri.
According to the prosecution, the group was arrested on the night of May 20 shortly after Manchester City’s 1-1 draw against Bournemouth officially confirmed Arsenal as Premier League champions.
The result handed the North London club an unassailable lead at the top of the table, ending the Gunners’ painful 22-year wait for the English top-flight crown.
Police officers conducting routine patrols in Kimumu area reportedly found the fans loudly celebrating on the streets while allegedly causing disturbance and disrupting public peace.
Why did Arsenal fans plead for leniency in court? During the court session, the accused pleaded for leniency, explaining that they were overwhelmed by excitement after witnessing Arsenal finally lift the trophy following years of heartbreak and near misses.
The fans told the court they had followed the club through several painful seasons where Arsenal narrowly missed out on the title after finishing second in the previous three campaigns.
They promised to maintain peace during future celebrations and assured the court they would avoid causing disturbance while celebrating their team’s victories again.
“We were simply carried away by the excitement of Arsenal finally winning the league after many years,” one of the fans reportedly told the court while pleading for forgiveness. Are Kenyan youth obsessed with foreign football? While delivering his ruling, Magistrate Daniel Sitati criticised the growing obsession among Kenyan youth with foreign football clubs, questioning why such intense passion was rarely directed toward local sports.
The magistrate challenged the supporters to channel similar energy into supporting Kenyan football clubs, noting that local teams equally perform well both nationally and within the region.
He urged young people to embrace patriotism in sports by supporting homegrown talent and leagues instead of only investing emotions in overseas football franchises.
The court ordered each of the eight supporters to pay a KSh 500 fine or serve a custodial sentence in default.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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