The first leg of the 2017 derby pitting Kenya’s top two sides, AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia passed without incident. Not only was the match incident free but also the fans of both sides maintained a friendly atmosphere before and after the match, at the stadium and on the streets.

At halftime, fans of both sides jogged and danced around the stadium together. Those of us who watched this event in the 1990s would tell you that such scenes were impossible back then.

The is precisely the kind of publicity the Kenya Premier League needs. Sports Minister Hassan Wario is always quick to admonish fans of these teams because it is politically convenient. He should now take this opportunity to congratulate both sets of fans. And the people in charge of the league and the clubs should seize upon this opportunity to attract more fans to the stadium.