'It's Too Much' - Harambee Stars Midfielder Calls Out Toxic Fan Culture Threatening Kenyan Football Success

Harambee Stars midfielder Kenneth Muguna has highlighted a key aspect of fan culture that must change if the national team hopes to compete on the global stage.

Harambee Stars are coming off a heavy 8-0 defeat to Senegal’s Lions of Teranga, and Muguna believes the attitude of supporters played a significant role in the outcome.

Prior to that friendly, Harambee Stars also struggled against Equatorial Guinea, suffering a narrow 1-0 loss.

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Speaking on the Kenya Football Dialogue podcast, the former Gor Mahia captain emphasised that for Harambee Stars to make meaningful progress, the mindset of local supporters must evolve.

He pointed out that impatience with players and the tendency to withdraw support too quickly have been long-standing issues in Kenyan football.

Kenneth Muguna explained that many fans struggle to value the time and effort it takes to build a strong team, often turning on players who have been part of the scene for years, which ultimately hinders the development of a consistent and competitive national side.

“It’s too much, especially in our culture. As Kenyans, we have this behaviour of getting fed up with people and things so fast. That’s why people can support you for a short time and then give up,” Kenneth Muguna said.

“I think this goes way back, where there are footballers who were in the scene for two or three years and then disappear. Right now, those people who have been in the game for 10 years or more are not liked by the fans.

“They don’t understand that football is a process, and we will never really have a good team if we are people who get tired of players very fast.”

Kenneth Muguna further expressed concern over the strained relationship between experienced players and fans, questioning why there seems to be constant pressure to push seasoned national team members out, unlike in other countries.

The former Kenya Police FC midfielder argued that as long as a player continues to perform, there should be no predetermined timeline for their tenure, as removing them prematurely denies younger players the chance to learn from their experience.

Kenneth Muguna urged supporters to encourage and back emerging talent while showing respect to those who have dedicated years to the team, highlighting the importance of guidance and continuity in building a strong national squad.

“Some of the experienced players are enemies of the fans. I wonder why we have the pressure of pushing people out of the national team, unlike other players from other countries,” Kenneth Muguna added.

“If a player is performing, I don’t think there has to be a timeline of how long they should stay in the national team. The people coming up will not have a place to learn from.

“When we started, we were also being advised, and the cycle goes on. I would urge fans to support the upcoming players and give the people who have been there the respect they deserve.”

Kenneth Muguna’s message serves as a reminder that the growth of Harambee Stars depends not just on the players on the pitch, but also on the support and patience of the fans who cheer them on.