Gor Mahia Ask Raila To Postpone Rally On Sunday

As a show of gratitude, the club invited Raila, who is its esteemed patron, to watch the game live.

Marvin Chege Marvin Chege
Jan 26, 2023 - 11:59 Updated: Sep 2, 2023 - 22:31
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Gor Mahia Ask Raila To Postpone Rally On Sunday
A collage of Raila Odinga at the Kamukunji rally on January 23, 2023 and Gor Mahia players. /RAILA ODINGA.GOR MAHIA

Gor Mahia Football Club has written to Azimio la Umoja coalition leader Raila Odinga to either postpone his planned public rally on Sunday, January 29 or host it earlier ahead of the highly-anticipated Mashemeji Derby.

In a statement by the 19-time Kenya Premier League (KPL) champions dated Thursday, January 26, the football club reminded Raila of the Mashemeji Derby which will see them take on AFC Leopards at Nyayo Stadium from 3 pm on Sunday, the same day Raila announced he would hold his weekly rally.

Gor Mahia appealed to Raila to make arrangements regarding the rally so that supporters of both clubs are allowed to flock to the stadium to catch the football clash.

As a show of gratitude, the club invited Raila, who is its esteemed patron, to watch the game live.

Raila Odinga meets Gor Mahia players during a friendly football match against Bondo United on December 25, 2022. /TWITTER.RAILA ODINGA

"We the Kogalo fraternity are aware that you have planned a consultative meeting with Wananchi Cum Demo on Sunday 29th January 2023. As our dear Patron, we wish to remind you of our Mashemeji Derby Clash with AFC Leopards at 3 p.m. - Nyayo Stadium; the same day that you will be holding a consultative meeting cum demo.

"We hereby formally invite you to grace the occasion. We also appeal to you to consider either rescheduling the demo or having it and in good time to enable the supporters of both Clubs to make their way to the stadium in time for the derby," read the statement in part.

During the Kamukunji rally on Monday, January 23, Raila announced that there will be rallies every week in a bid to defend the rights of Kenyans. 

"We want Kenyans to come out strong. There will be no elections in 2027 until we clean up the dirt of 2022. There are no two ways about it. We will campaign and defend the rights of Kenyans to elect the leadership of their choice.

"Beginning today, the meetings that we had postponed at Jacaranda Grounds will happen this Sunday, January 29," he said.

The rally saw him declare that the coalition would not recognise William Ruto as president as well as any official appointed by him to the government. This was among eight demands he listed in his clarion call during his address to his supporters.

"We demand that the entire infrastructure and the records of the 2022 elections at the IEBC be made public and audited by an impartial body. A forensic audit of the IEBC results and services is non-negotiable.

"We demand that any attempts to reconstitute the IEBC single-handedly by Ruto cease forthwith so that Kenyans themselves can reconstitute the body after firm and fair deliberations," he addressed.

The Mashemeji Derby, previously known as the Nairobi Derby, is a football contest between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards and can literally be translated to mean ‘in-laws’.

The derby acquired the name owing to the close cultural ties between the Luhya people – whose majority support AFC Leopards, and Luo who are predominantly Gor Mahia supporters. 

The rivalry developed into an intense contest owing to the success of both teams on the pitch even though Gor Mahia – now with 19 Premier League titles – have been more successful than AFC Leopards, who have 12 – of which the last was won in 1998.

Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards players in action during a past Mashemeji Derby game at Nyayo National Stadium. /THE STAR

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