Kenyan fans flooded Tranmere and Charlton social media pages this week, turning quiet English club accounts into celebration zones after two Harambee Stars players sealed moves to League Two and the Championship.
It started on February 2 when Tranmere Rovers posted about borrowing young midfielder Zech Obiero from Leyton Orient until summer. The 20-year-old creative talent, fresh from Kenya’s under-20 setup, needs regular games to grow. Prenton Park offers exactly that in a promotion-chasing side.
Likes piled up fast. Comments came in Swahili and English mixes. Fans joked the club’s social media handler deserved a bonus for the sudden traffic surge. One wrote, “Admin, get ready for Kenyan time – we’re here every day now.” Others shared flag emojis and Harambee Stars chants, promising to follow every match from Birkenhead.
The same day, Charlton Athletic dropped bigger news. They signed centre-back Collins Sichenje, 22, outright from Serbian club FK Vojvodina. The tall defender, already capped for Kenya’s senior team, brings strength and calm to The Valley backline. Fans went wild again. Demands flew in for him to appear in every post – training shots, match previews, even the club profile picture.
One popular comment read, “Sichenje must be in every carousel from now on – no excuses.” Others tagged friends, saying Charlton just gained thousands of new supporters overnight from East Africa. The red army suddenly felt a bit greener with Kenyan pride mixed in.
These moves mean a lot back home. Kenyan players abroad often fight for minutes, but Obiero and Sichenje picked clubs where they’ll play often. Lower English leagues grind hard, yet they build tough pros. Both have Harambee Stars futures bright – Obiero as a rising playmaker, Sichenje holding the defence steady.
In Nairobi pubs and online groups, talk centres on tracking their games. Late kickoffs or early ones don’t matter – streams get found, highlights shared. Some fans already plan trips if the teams climb leagues. It’s the kind of buzz that pulls people closer to clubs they barely knew last month.
Club staff seem to enjoy it. Tranmere shared more photos of Obiero with the scarf. Charlton posted Sichenje signing clips that racked up views quick. Good vibes all round – new players settle, supporters grow.
Kenyan football keeps pushing players overseas these days. Moves like this show the talent pool runs deep. Fans back home stay loyal, loud, ready to cheer from afar. Prenton Park and The Valley might feel far, but for many in Kenya, they’re home now too.
As seasons heat up, eyes stay glued. Two young stars carrying national hopes on English pitches. The support? It’s only starting. Watch those social pages – the Kenyan wave keeps rolling.
