The K’Ogalo Nation

Earlier this month, the world witnessed the birth of a new nation, South Sudan. While the international community has been quick to offer congratulatory messages to this nation, few have noticed the silent emergence of yet another great nation, the K’Ogalo Nation.

Last weekend I got the privilege to attend two very special events. The first one was the Kenya National Athletics trials organized to select the teams that will represent our country in both the World Championships in Daegu, South Korea and the All Africa Games in Maputo, Mozambique. The second special event I attended was the Slum Boys versus K’Ogalo Nation in a KPL match.

Athletics and football are the two sports disciplines most loved by Kenyans. Football matches are frequent and are organized everywhere from the streets, village and estate playing grounds to the football stadiums. Football fans are already used to paying entry fee to watch their favorite teams in action. Athletics fans, however, long used to watching their superstars in action only on television rarely get the chance to see them in action locally. There are very few athletics events around such that the few that take place do not charge any entry fee.  

Saturday, was the final day for the national trials and Nyayo stadium was packed. Sunday, was the day of the match between Mathare Utd and K’Ogalo Nation. Considering that the athletics event was free while the football match had an entry fee of either 100/- or 400/-, the attendance to the football match probably exceeded that of the athletics event. There is only one reason for this: the emergence of The K’Ogalo Nation and their message was that they don’t need free things. We’d rather pay to watch our team than be allowed free entry.

The K’Ogalo Nation seems to be bigger, and more passionate than the Kenyan Nation. They have their own “national” colours i.e. green and white which are easily recognizable.  They also have their national uniform which is also easily recognizable. They have their own special songs which they sing to cheer on their team.

It is worth noting that none other than the K’Ogalo Nation coach was once quoted as saying that coaching K’Ogalo Nation was more stressful than coaching Harambee Stars. The citizens of this K’Ogalo Nation pay their taxes promptly i.e. entry fee. The revenue authorities, Ticket Masters, usually report record gate collections in all the matches involving the K’Ogalo Nation.

While national teams struggle to hype their events and bring fans to the stadium, K’Ogalo Nation doesn’t. The venue, time, date and entry fee are challenges that are welcomed and embraced with passion. The days leading up to a match involving the K’Ogalo Nation, are filled with lots of excitement and debate about the team players, their opponents, the strategy the coach will use, the sponsorship issue just to mention but a few.

One thing indeed is clear; the K’Ogalo Nation has been born and is here to stay. Perhaps the international community should also recognize it the way they did South Sudan. Perhaps, we should open up diplomatic missions abroad starting with South Sudan.

Long live the K’Ogalo Nation. Long live the team that has been representing the K’Ogalo Nation very well, the Mighty Gor Mahia.