Gor Mahia serenades Lewis Bandi as former Ingwe utility man makes long-awaited debut
By Luke Oluoch, February 1, 2026Gor Mahia ace Lewis Bandi finally made his long-awaited competitive debut, almost six months after making his switch from AFC Leopards to Gor Mahia in September 2025.
In a carnival mood that followed Gor’s 3-0 win over Sofapaka on Saturday, January 31, 2026, the former AFC Leopards star was introduced to the fans after the clash.
In a ritualistic practise, the versatile player joined the K’Ogalo’s players in a celebratory dance with their fans after the huge win at the Nyayo National Stadium.
Serenaded
During the occasion, Bandi was seen taking up a toy gun before proceeding to make a mock ‘shooting’ towards Gor fans in the stands, a spectacle that must have been an eyesore to AFC fans watching one of their former assistant skippers and the 2025 Most Valuable Player now donning the green and white of their sworn rivals.
He later went on to acknowledge the fans who made renditions of his name as K’Ogalo’s new No. 25 and applauded them.
Bandi, a member of the Makadara Junior League (MJL) side and the AFC Leopards Youth team, made an improbable transfer, crossing over to Gor Mahia in September 2025, following the 2024 African Nations Championship games in Nairobi.
Following a brief appearance in Go’s preseason camp in Tanzania, the defender has been missing in action due to injury.
He eventually made the comeback as Charles Akonnor’s side edged Batoto Ba Mungu to move four points clear at the helm of the standings.
Leopards’ fan base
The moment somewhat irked a section of Leopards fans, who took to social media to share their views.
Yvonne Buluma, a die-hard ardent Leopards fan, commented that she remains pained by the defender’s move, stating that she has not come to terms with it.
Another drew solace from the players’ supposed initiation to fans by claiming that at least he did not witness the former Ingwe player kissing the green army badge anywhere during the celebrations.
Bandi’s transfer elicited a backlash from a section of Leopards’ fan base, prompting chair Boniface Ambani to comment on the reasons that informed the club’s decision to let the player go.