Baba would have declared a holiday to celebrate Arsenal EPL title, Raila Jnr
Baba would have declared a holiday to celebrate Arsenal EPL title, Raila Jnr
Raila Odinga Jnr has joined millions of jubilant Arsenal F.C. supporters in celebrating the club’s historic English Premier League triumph, joking that his father would have declared a public holiday in honour of the victory.
Speaking after Arsenal clinched the 2025-26 Premier League title, Raila Odinga Jnr said the club’s success was proof that patience and faith eventually pay off.
He sparked excitement among Arsenal supporters with a humorous remark referencing former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
“If my father and I did not have faith in the Arsenal team, we would not have reached here. If Baba were alive, he would have declared Tuesday a public holiday to celebrate Arsenal’s win,” he said.
The former Prime Minister was an avid supporter of Arsenal F.C., often sharing memories with his son by watching the matches together.
His love for the Gunners was acknowledged both locally and internationally.
The former Prime Minister’s deep connection with football was well known to Kenyans. Whether in stadiums or political rallies, the seasoned leader never hid his passion for the sport.
His dedication to Arsenal FC often made headlines, as he was fond of analysing their matches and joking about the team’s fortunes or misfortunes with the same seriousness he brought to national affairs.
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Back home, Raila was a long-time supporter of Gor Mahia FC, one of Kenya’s most successful and historic football clubs. He frequently referred to himself as Gor Mahia’s number one fan and often attended their matches, proudly donning the team’s green and white colours.
But his connection to football went beyond fandom. Raila often spoke of football as a tool for unity and youth empowerment.
He pushed for more investment in sports infrastructure, grassroots leagues, and talent development programmes, believing that football could help transform lives and bridge political and social divides.
This comes as Arsenal fans across Kenya and other parts of Africa erupted into celebrations after the North London club secured its first Premier League title in 22 years.
In Nairobi, thousands of fans flooded the Central Business District dressed in Arsenal jerseys, waving flags, chanting club songs and blowing vuvuzelas as they celebrated the long-awaited triumph.
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