The ugly side of Kenya vs Gabon game
Despite the loss, a section of the crowd still had energy to sing and dance including ridiculing the President during and after the match
It was meant to joyous 90 minutes for the hundreds of spectators who thronged the Nyayo National Stadium for the Kenya vs Gabon 2026 FIFA-World Cup Africa Qualifiers duel but as it turns out it was misery on the sidelines as action was witnessed on the pitch of play.
The whole drama actually began Thursday last week when it was announced the ticketing would be online to avoid last minute messes at the gates. According to reliable sources, the contracted ticket providers (tikiti.co.ke) sold a total of 21,900 tickets in a flash against the sitting capacity of 30,000 spectators.
However, what turned out was some top individuals in football management were allegedly hoarding tickets which they sold at exorbitant prices. Because of demand, the merchants were not concerned about safety with the stadium filling to the rafters in Kenya’s 2-1 loss to the West African nation.
The other issue which was a major concern was stadium security which was breached from all corners. A gate was broken down during a stampede outside with security forces. Frustrated accused ticket handlers of being slow with checks. It meant that a good number of non-paying fans accessed the facility thus causing a breach but also ensuring the federation incurred losses on revenue.
Old folks, women with children and young fanatics wanted a piece of the pie and risked their lives by scaling walls and gates to get into the stadium as anxiety was building. It would appear the only people who were safe were the VIP stand ticket holders, players, officials and the media because even the regular seats were too full with extra fans now standing dangerously on the barriers while others got vantage but dangerous spots on masts and wall tops in a bid to catch the action.
There was obviously palpable excitement due to fans missing action home for four years during the stadium closure for renovations.
While at it, there was an interesting twist as President William Ruto who was in attendance alongside other dignitaries, had his social media channels air the match against contractual obligations by the Football Kenya Federation (FKF). Broadcast rights to the match were exclusive to the federation alone and anybody else was barred to air, share or record any proceedings of the match. It would appear an oversight on the Head of State’s handlers but that was a serious anomaly that was evident and not pretty.
Despite the loss, a section of the crowd still had energy to sing and dance including ridiculing the President during and after the match. Outside the facility, everyone was left to their devices with goons robbing from hapless fans despite the fact that Nyayo Stadium Police station is right within the vicinity. There were reports of car breakages that left a poor taste on genuine fans taste that came in unison to enjoy the beautiful game and cheer the boys.
At the same time, a rowdy mob descended on Mumias East legislator Peter Salasya with kicks and blows. He was accused of abusing former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
