Arsenal fans celebrate Premier League victory in Nairobi

Thousands of ecstatic Arsenal supporters filled Nairobi’s streets on Sunday evening to commemorate the club’s remarkable Premier League championship win, causing temporary congestion in parts of the Central Business District. The fans, adorned in Arsenal jerseys and brandishing club flags, turned the city red as they paraded through main thoroughfares singing chants in honor of the eagerly anticipated championship. Supporters blew vuvuzelas while others danced on cars and motorcycles as drivers faced challenges navigating through the growing crowds. The festivities created short-lived traffic jams in certain CBD areas as jubilant fans assembled in large numbers to celebrate the club’s first Premier League championship in 22 years. Comparable scenes unfolded in various towns nationwide, with Arsenal supporters flooding streets, pubs, and entertainment venues to honor the triumph. Supporters across Africa also participated in the festivities after Arsenal secured the 2025-26 Premier League title after an intensely competitive season. The championship represents a significant achievement for the North London club, which had experienced numerous close calls despite establishing themselves as formidable contenders in recent years. Arsenal’s victory follows three successive second-place finishes, including the agonizing 2023-24 season when Manchester City narrowly claimed the title by just two points. Manager Mikel Arteta also secured his place in Premier League history by becoming the first former Premier League player to win the trophy as a manager. Arteta, who assumed leadership of Arsenal in December 2019 after previously playing for the club from 2011 to 2016, has received significant praise for transforming the team into championship contenders. The win gives Arsenal four Premier League titles, positioning them ahead of Liverpool F.C. and just one behind Chelsea F.C. in the Premier League era. Manchester United F.C. continue as the most successful club in Premier League history with 13 titles, while Manchester City have secured eight. The only other clubs to have won the trophy are Blackburn Rovers F.C. and Leicester City F.C., each with one championship. Throughout the complete history of English top-flight football, Arsenal have now been champions 14 times, surpassed only by Liverpool and Manchester United, who each have 20 league titles. On May 20, President William Ruto joined football enthusiasts across the continent in commemorating the Premier League championship. President Ruto characterized Arsenal’s journey to the league pinnacle as an extraordinary adventure distinguished by resilience, discipline, and determination. It has been quite an experience to follow Arsenal Football Club’s extraordinary journey, from periods of difficulty and devastating setbacks to consecutive seasons of recovery and ascent on their magnificent path to the summit of the English Premier League, Ruto stated. He noted that the team’s victory illustrated the force of hope, resilience, concentration, and unceasing effort in practice. Tonight, the great prize is achieved. The team has triumphed. Its belief and commitment are justified. And our dedication to achieve success through work, discipline, and collaboration is confirmed. Congratulations to the Gunners, he concluded.