Mashemeji derby: Claims about witchcraft in Kenyan football- human body parts being used

Gor Mahia Ernest Wendo(L) and Whyvonne Isuza of AFC Leopards battle for ball possession during their KPL derby at Kasarani Stadium on Saturday 09/02/19. Gor won 2-0[Boniface Okendo,Standard]

Often witchcraft has been associated with football matches in West Africa but according to blogger Robert Alai, the dark practice could be infiltrating the Kenyan Premier League as a way of gaining competitive edge over opponents.

In a tweet, he claimed that human body parts were being used to cleanse the pitch before and during matches.

“We must stop the use of human body parts by Gor Mahia and AFC football clubs to cleanse the field before and during matches,” he tweeted ahead of Mashemeji derby last weekend.

We must stop the use of human body parts by Gor Mahia and AFC football clubs to cleanse the field before and during matches. The level of witchcraft in local football is disgusting and not helping grow the game. It's simply disgusting!!! #AwachoAyueyo — Robert Alai (@RobertAlai) February 3, 2019

Condemning the practice of human sacrifice, he added that nowhere it has been proven that it can influence the outcome of a game.

“The level of witchcraft in local football is disgusting and not helping grow the game. It's simply disgusting!!! #AwachoAyueyo,” he added.

However, despite Alai’s claims there were no proven accounts of witchcraft reported before and during the Mashemeji derby where AFC football club lost 2 - 0 to their archrivals.

The tweet, elicited reactions from Kenyans and fans with some demanding for evidence while others condemning the alleged practice.

Omera Gor Mahia is a spirit . En juogi koro bed mos — Nelson W. Osiemo (@atwenga) February 3, 2019

So you done with match fixing you back to witchcraft. You make thinking look so expensive — Ougo Kayiemba (@OugoK) February 3, 2019

I guess such rituals if indeed exist are done in secret or in the dark. Is it wrong for us to assume you are the juju man? — End2End Courier (@EndCourier) February 4, 2019

Witchcraft is real when you believe in it — ©ANDY DAMILO (@andydamilo25) February 3, 2019

Afunge bakuli ama afungwe? This is a defamation case straight away. I think this guy is thick. — Kairu Mwaura (@MwauraKairu) February 3, 2019

I don't watch football but this claim is just as baseless as it can be only within the emaciated brains could one ever think backwards like this. Those fingers could have done better job! — Frankmbala (@frankmbala) February 5, 2019