By Anderson Ojwang
The mighty Gor Mahia FC and Kenya’s 22-time Premier League winners have a date with destiny at this year’s CECAFA Kagame tournament in Rwanda. Gor Mahia last won the cup 41 years ago.
The tournament, which begins on 24th July in Rwanda, will be a special one as fate has pooled the Kenyan team with Djibouti’s.
K’Ogalo does not only have a date to win the trophy but to avenge on behalf of its immediate former patron, the late Raila Amolo Odinga, and bring back tears of joy to Kenyans.
As fate would have it, K’Ogalo must now wipe out the tears of Mahia fans after the demise of the patron by not only beating the Djibouti representatives, Garde Republicaine, comprehensively but also lifting the trophy.
In February 2025, Kenya’s Raila lost to Djibouti’s candidate Mahamoud Ali Youssouf in the seventh round of the election after the winner garnered 33 votes.
Mahamoud’s victory did not go down well with Kenyans and specifically K’Ogalo fans, who have now found an opportunity to revenge and honour Raila by lifting the trophy.
Gor Mahia has been pooled with APR FC from Rwanda and Vipers SC from Uganda in Group A.
In Raila’s last breakfast and public meeting before he travelled to India for treatment, where he died, he gave Gor Mahia Sh10 million and challenged them to win the Premier League and continental trophies.
The team made good on the promise and won the league, and recently presented the trophy to Raila’s family at his Karen home.
Gor Mahia wrote: “Promise kept, a legacy honoured… Just a day after being crowned SportPesa League champions, Gor Mahia presented the league trophy and ODM Cup to Mama Ida Odinga at her Karen home in Nairobi, fulfilling the final order given by the late club patron, Baba Raila Odinga.”
Number of times Gor has won the CECAFA Cup
Gor Mahia has won the CECAFA Cup three times: in 1980, 1981, and 1985, while local arch-rivals AFC Leopards have won the cup five times: in 1979, 1982, 1983, 1984, and 1997, and Tusker FC four times: in 1978, 1989, 2000, and 2001.
Who are Garde Republicaine?
Guelleh Batal de la Garde Republicaine, more commonly known as Garde Republicaine FC or simply Garde, has only won the league twice in its history. They claimed their first championship in the 2019/20 season and their second title during the 2022/2023 season.
The team is located in Djibouti City and plays its matches at the 20,000-capacity Gouled Aptidon Stadium.
The league consists of 10 teams and was formed in 1987, with ASAS Djibouti Telecom being the most successful team in the league, having won seven times.
Gor signings
Gor Mahia has ventured into the market and signed three players: goalkeeper Michael Onyango from Equity, striker Paul Okoth, and defender Daniel Sakari.
For Gor Mahia, beating Garde and winning the cup will be an honour to the departed Enigma. So Gor cannot afford to lose to the Djibouti team – that would be a double pain.
