Gor Mahia Fan On The Spot For Donning NYS Uniform During Mashemeji Derby On Sunday

• Kenyans on social media expressed varied reactions after a Facebook group associated with police matters posted about the football fan
• The Gor Mahia football club fan was wearing clothes resembling the uniform of the National Youth Service
• Cops Kenya Facebook page's administrator advised the football fan to return the uniform to the rightful service departments

Michael Ollinga is a journalist at TUKO.co.ke with over 10 years of experience covering courts and crimes, special reports, and current affairs in Kenya.

Kenyans online expressed mixed reactions after a photo of a local club football fan wearing uniforms believed to be of the National Youth Service (NYS) went viral.

What is NYS?

NYS was established by an Act of Parliament (Cap 208) and, among other mandates, is tasked with training young men and women and deploying them to serve the nation in tasks of national importance.

The photo shows a man wearing pants and a jacket with a print similar to the NYS uniform.

Inside the unbuttoned shirt is a green Gor Mahia jersey. The man is also wearing a green hat with Gor Mahia inscriptions.

According to the photo, the football fan was attending a derby match between historical Kenyan football rivals Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards.

Gor Mahia vs AFC Leopards derby results

In the latest derby between Gor Mahia and AFC, the former won by a solitary goal in the 30th minute.

Cops Kenya's admin captioned the photo of the fan, "Mkuu (gentleman), you need to surrender that uniform immediately."

Kubalo Valentine echoed the administrator's sentiments, saying civilians were not supposed to wear uniforms because it showed total disregard for the servicemen.

Is wearing NYS uniforms legal for civilians?

"NYS uniform ndio uniform inavaliwa na kila mtu, mimi nilikaa 6 months ndio nikavaa hio combat, alafu mtu mahali analetewa tu anavaa (The NYS uniform is now being worn haphazardly by everyone, yet it took me six months of training to be authorised to wear it, yet civilians are just wearing it without caring," he responded.

Kamau Maxy called out civilians wearing the NYS uniform without the right qualifications.

"It really annoys me to see uninformed raia akitumia hii uniform kama tissue, wish ajue the pain behind it. (It annoys me to see an uninformed civilian using this uniform like a piece of tissue paper. I wish they knew the pain behind earning it," Kamau added.

Chris Odhis Collins argued that the uniform was tactical fatigue and was available everywhere.

"They are tactical and now available everywhere in town," he said.

"Kenya National Youth Service, you need to do something. People go through a lot before wearing that but, it's diminishing that they are everywhere out here," Brian Cardprince said.

Some Kenyans narrated their experiences after being caught wearing police and military outfits as civilians.

"You remind me of my youthful days. I bought boots from my neighbour whose dad used to work in the military. I was dealt with like a chicken thief," Ben Pauls recounted.

NYS warns civilian Kenyans from wearing service uniform

About two years ago, NYS warned civilians against buying, selling, or wearing the uniforms meant for its servicemen, as it was illegal and culprits would be arrested and prosecuted.

"Did you know it's illegal to don NYS uniforms if you are not a service member? Now you know," NYS posted on X.

The government agency was concerned with increased cases of servicemen selling their uniforms to civilians.

"This is the very reason we are notifying members of the public. It's illegal to buy, sell, or don NYS uniforms. Why risk going to jail for something you can avoid? Uniforms are for active members only," NYS stated.

According to the Kenyan Defence Forces Act of 2012, civilians are prohibited from wearing military uniforms.

Those found culpable for the offence can face up to seven years in jail or pay fines of up to KSh 1 million.

Section 101(1) of the National Police Act states that:

"A person other than a police officer who, without the written authority of the Inspector General, puts on or assumes, either in whole or in part, the uniform, name, designation, or description of a police officer, or a uniform, name, or designation, resembling or intended to resemble the uniform, name, or designation of a police officer, commits an offence and shall be liable on conviction to a fine not exceeding KSh 1 million or imprisonment not exceeding 10 years or both."

In 2019, the then Inspector General of Police, Joseph Boinnet, warned Kenyans against wearing uniforms resembling those of police officers. The Business Daily reported this.

On matters involving police uniforms, members of the National Assembly are pushing for the introduction of pocketless police wear to combat corruption.

Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke