Gor Mahia number one fan Jaro Soja was temporarily detained at Namanga border point and forced to remove his K’Ogalo attire before crossing the border over claims that it resembled Tanzanian military uniform.
Soja was left in shock after the immigration officials and the police said he was dressed like the Tanzanian head of the military; therefore it would be a breach of security to cross the border in his attire.
Efforts by Soja to defend himself, saying he was in K’Ogalo colours and was not aware of their military uniform, fell on deaf ears as the immigration officers stuck to their guns.
Jaro Soja was among K’Ogalo faithful who travelled to Tanzania to cheer their team in the SportPesa Super Cup final against arch-rivals AFC Leopards at Uhuru Stadium in Dar es Salaam which Gor won 3-0.
Jaro condemned the incident and the mistreatment, adding that even President Uhuru Kenyatta knows his attires and has never complained to anyone.
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“I went to Cecafa in Dar to cheer the national team in 2014 and I was not subjected to such harassment,” he said.
“They told me the uniform could make police officers mistake me for some military officer and salute me,” added the disappointed Jaro.
Jaro reportedly removed his attire and entered Tanzania in an official shirt. He had to wait until the D-day to put on his attire.
Gor’s win over Ingwe, their second this season with a similar margin, earned the team Sh3 million prize money and a ticket to play English Premier League side Everton in a friendly match next month.
