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The two clubs – and their fans - have been linked to some rituals, especially before their matches.
Mashemeji Derby is no doubt Kenya’s biggest club football rivalry, given the popularity of the teams involved.
On Sunday, the fans were treated to yet another derby showdown when Gor Mahia hosted – and lost – to AFC Leopards at Nyayo Stadium.
This was a big setback for Gor Mahia, as their dominance spanning over seven years came to a halt when Ingwe claimed a 2-1 victory.
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Ingwe might have been second best on the day but there were a number of factors that contributed to their first win against K’Ogalo since 2016
The loss is considered a big blow to K'Ogalo, who are chasing the league title, and losing to Ingwe, sworn enemies who are not in the title contest, is surely a hard result to accept and move on from.
Given the stature of the duel, there have been rituals associated with both teams and, to a greater extent, their fans. These rituals are mostly performed before the match.
One of the commonly known rituals is that the teams will use different routes to the stadium before the Mashemeji Derby.
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Ingwe punished Gor Mahia with their only two shots on target, ending a seven-year winless run against their sworn rivals.
Former Gor Mahia forward Ronald Okoth has explained why these rituals are prevalent in the derby.
"These rituals are spread in the Mashemeji Derby because it is a match like no other. There are superstitions on both teams because they are mainly community clubs," Okoth told Pulse Sports.
"For example, sometimes you are not allowed to touch your teammates’ shoes or even a jersey. You know, given the magnitude of the match, the mood changes, and so these things are there.
"The technical bench and the administration had no problem with it because what you can also notice is that there was a lack of trust.
"But they were just normal superstitions that, for example, one will spell bad luck on the other if he touches his belongings, like a jersey and their boots. Ataleta swara."
Kuleta swara is a street jargon in Kenya that means to cast a bad lack or spell on someone else or on any group.
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The Ingwe picked up their first win over K'Ogalo in seven years, with Victor Omune and Maxwell Otieno scoring for Leopards.
Okoth, before he retired, played for Western Stima, KCB, and Sofapaka too, and he says the rituals he witnessed at Gor Mahia, especially before a match against Leopards, are not done in those other clubs.
"I have not seen such rituals on other teams that I have played for," he added.
"But I do not see any issue with such rituals because Gor Mahia, which I played for, is a community club, and so such is part of their culture."
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