Nairobi’s central business district turned into a sea of emotions on the evening of August 22, 2025, shortly after the Harambee Stars were eliminated from the African Nations Championship.
The national team had drawn 1-1 with Madagascar in the quarterfinals at Kasarani Stadium but were edged out 4-3 in the penalty shootout. What began as a football heartbreak soon spilled into the streets, with disappointed fans chanting “Mwizi” and “Wantam” as they marched through the city.
“Mwizi,” meaning thief in Swahili, has long been used in protests to accuse leaders of corruption, while “Wantam” is a demand for President William Ruto to serve only one term in office.
The chants echoed in unison as groups blocked sections of roads and sang songs that mixed football disappointment with political discontent.
The tournament, co-hosted by Kenya, Uganda, and Tanzania, had offered a rare moment of national unity, drawing massive crowds to Kenyan stadiums. Harambee Stars had captured the imagination of fans with notable wins against teams like DR Congo and Morocco, victories that brought hope and pride.
President Ruto himself embraced the spirit of the competition, attending matches, donning jerseys, and promising players one million shillings each for wins. While this support was welcomed by some, it came at a time when his administration was under sharp criticism for economic policies, high taxes, and the handling of protests.
Since mid-2024, demonstrations against the finance bill and rising cost of living had rocked the country, leaving behind deaths, injuries, and abductions. Inflation, which stood at 5.6 percent in July 2025, deepened frustrations.
Chants like “Ruto Must Go” and “Wantam” became common in rallies and streets, with the Saba Saba protests earlier in July marking a peak of resistance.
Though the government withdrew the contested bill, public distrust lingered, and reports from the anti-corruption commission further fueled skepticism.
During CHAN, stadiums had been filled with energy, with fans cheering on the team and briefly replacing protest slogans with chants of “One Million” in reference to the presidential bonuses. Some critics accused authorities of buying tickets in bulk to suppress dissenting voices, but the festive atmosphere offered a break from political divisions.
Coach Benni McCarthy earned praise for guiding the team, and matches attracted more than 44,000 spectators, with VAR technology introduced for the first time in Kenyan-hosted games.
When the penalty defeat came, the hopeful unity dissolved quickly. Videos shared online showed fans describing the shift as a return to “default settings,” with protests resuming in the streets.
Young people voiced anger not only at the team’s loss but also at unemployment and governance issues. The chants, though loud, did not spark major clashes, but they underlined how football and politics remain deeply linked in Kenya.
For a moment, the game had paused protests, but the loss reopened them, leaving the city humming with the familiar calls for change as Madagascar advanced to the semifinals.
