NAIROBI, August 23- Nairobi County boss, Dr. Evans Kidero, has discounted reports he had banned SportPesa Premier League titans, Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards from playing their matches in the capital following the violence that saw the latest Mashemeji Derby abandoned on Sunday.
Speaking to Capital Sport on Monday, the Governor asserted the reports associated with him did not emanate from his person as he called on the two self-supporting community clubs to stamp out hooliganism from their ranks.
“The statement wasn’t from me; I think probably, somebody sent that statement in error.
“I have been a long term supporter of Gor and I’ve been a long term supporter of AFC, and you recall I used to sponsor AFC in the previous years. All we have done is say, games must be played with calmness and peace and there should be no violence or destruction of property,” Kidero stated.
“I don’t have the authority and capacity to ban. I’m their biggest supporter and I will always support them. Action is being taken on the person who sent the message in error,” the County boss added.
The latest derby between the champions who were playing at home and struggling Leopards was locked at 0-0 when Gor were awarded a spot-kick for Jackson Saleh’s needless handball in the box on 66 minutes.
A section of Ingwe faithful took the cue to hurl projectiles onto the pitch disrupting the match for the second time following fracas that broke out on the stroke of half time and after a 25-minute stoppage, Match Commissioner, Paul Kaunda, called off the clash for security reasons.
Last year, Machakos County Governor, Alfred Mutua, banned Gor from Machakos after supporters of the team went on rampage after losing 3-2 to Sofapaka and K’Ogalo are yet to play there this season ahead of their October 18 second-leg clash slated for Kenyatta Stadium.
It remains to be seen whether Mutua’s ban is still in force having fined K’Ogalo Sh10m for the damage caused to businesses and other amenities within the County headquarters.
Meanwhile, Football Kenya Federation (FKF) is awaiting Kenyan Premier League (KPL) report on the derby before deciding what action to take following the latest acts of hooliganism in the derby.
In a statement signed by Media Officer, John Kariuki, the federation blamed KPL and lax security arrangements by the host team for the aborted match.
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