FKF starts probe into alleged hoarding of tickets for Kenya-Gabon match
President Hussein Mohammed states that a total of 15,968 tickets regular tickets were sold in the game
The Football Kenya Federation has said it will immediately commence investigations over the alleged ticket hoarding during the Sunday match played at Nyayo Stadium in the 2025 FIFA World Cup qualifiers pitting Kenya and Gabon.
Speaking to the press during a postpartum of the match, which Harambee Stars lost 2-1, at the stadium earlier this afternoon, FKF President Hussein Mohammed, who was flanked by his deputy McDonald Mariga, expressed displeasure at the ticketing fiasco, terming it unacceptable.
Mohammed, while fielding questions from the press, stated that a total of 15,968 tickets regular tickets were sold in the game. Also sold were 1,331 VIP tickets, VVIP 107 tickets and 329 Car Park slots totaling to Ksh 6,498,000. Still, there are lots of discrepancies with different figures being floated. There were 100 VVIP tickets, retailing for Ksh 10, 000 each, and 1,800 VIP tickets sold at Ksh 1, 000 each, while for the terraces, fans were paying Ksh 300 each for the 21,000 tickets that were made available, translating to Ksh 9.1 million in total ticket sales.
“We do not want to go and follow what is being spread on social media because that is not evidence. We want to ask anybody with concrete evidence that certain people did bulk purchase to come forth. For now, our service providers, Tikiti, are doing a review and looking at back end to ascertain if there were any machinations. At this point, it is all allegations and if anybody is found to have done wrongs, they will be held accountable,” he said.
Mohammed also thanked the police and other security organs for doing a solid job overall in the match that saw thousands of football fans attend. “We thank our security teams especially the Police for working hard. We also talked about lapses and how we can coordinate operations better in the future because there has to be improvements.”
Additionally, the FKF boss also pointed out that maybe because of better interest in the local game, it would be prudent to move future Harambee Stars games to other venues.
“Now that there is greater enthusiasm in football in Kenya, we may be forced to sit and agree with all stakeholders if indeed future Harambee Stars games could be moved elsewhere like Kasarani Stadium for better fan experience, safety and security. At the same time, ahead of CHAN (Africa Nations Championships), we will discuss with even the LOC (Local Organising Committee) if indeed we can have some games in the Kenya Premier League hosted here starting with Mashemeji Derby this Sunday,” he offered.
Meanwhile, the CHAN LOC chairman Nicholas Musonye has cautioned AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia fans to behave themselves during this weekend’s Mashemeji Derby at Nyayo Stadium or they will be kicked out.
“We only have four months to the CHAN event and if we overuse the two facilities with games, then the pitches will not be in good condition and works are still ongoing. Let me be clear and I know the FKF President was being polite, but let me warn those two teams that if we will have any stones being thrown around or any seats broken, both of them will be banned without a second thought.”
