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Dama Wa Spares says Arsenal defeat spared Nairobi fresh rounds of noisy celebrations
31st May, 2026 07:47 PM
City businesswoman Damaris Muriithi, popularly known as Dama Wa Spares, has reacted to Arsenal’s UEFA Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, saying the result unexpectedly brought calm across Nairobi after days of anticipation among football fans.
In a Facebook post on Sunday, May 31, 2026, Dama noted that PSG’s victory in the tense final played in Budapest ended what could have been another wave of noisy and energetic street celebrations by Arsenal supporters in the city.
“God is Great. At least there was no unnecessary noise in the streets today, last time Thika road ilikuwa red kila mahali na CBD kulikuwa total noise from those people, they are good noise makers
,” she wrote.
Arsenal’s Champions League journey came to a heartbreaking end after losing 4-3 on penalties to PSG at the Puskás Aréna on Saturday, May 30, 2026, following a 1-1 draw in regular and extra time.
The defeat saw Gabriel Magalhães miss the decisive penalty that handed the French side the trophy.
The result brought mixed emotions among football fans globally, including in Kenya, where Arsenal enjoys a massive following and has previously triggered large-scale celebrations in Nairobi following major victories.
Dama Wa Spares, reflecting on the outcome, said the defeat effectively “saved Nairobi” from another expected round of loud street celebrations similar to those witnessed after Arsenal’s Premier League triumph earlier in the season, when fans flooded major roads, including Thika Road and Nairobi’s CBD in jubilant scenes.
She pointed out that while Arsenal’s success had previously united fans in celebration, the scale of street gatherings often turned chaotic and disrupted normal city activity, especially during major title wins.
“Mungu Asante kwa kujali watu wako. PSG saved us. Frank Neva leo hakuna unnecessary noises. Who else is feeling calmness everywhere?” she added.
The final itself was a tightly contested affair, with Arsenal taking the lead through Kai Havertz before PSG equalised via Ousmane Dembélé’s penalty.
The match remained deadlocked through extra time, leading to a dramatic shoot-out where PSG held their nerve to secure back-to-back European titles.
Nairobi parade cancelled
Following the defeat, digital content creator Nicki Bigfish called off their planned Arsenal UEFA Champions League victory celebration at Nairobi Archives.
In a video shared on social media late on Saturday, May 30, 2026, Nicki announced that the event would no longer take place and symbolically tore up a police gathering permit that had been obtained for the planned celebrations.
He said Arsenal’s success had only been postponed and encouraged supporters to remain hopeful about the club’s future.
“The victory has only been postponed. Arsenal fans should keep believing,” they said.
Author
Steve Ireri
Steve is a senior writer with over four years of experience in digital journalism. His focus is on the showbiz and human interest stories. Emails: [email protected] , [email protected]
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