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Don’t cause chaos, Ruto tells Harambee Stars fans
President William Ruto greets Harambee Stars Captain Aboud Omar when he met the Kenyan national team squad in Nairobi on August 11, 2025, following their victory over Morocco in the 2024 African Nations Championship.
What you need to know:
- Only 27,000 fans will be allowed into the 48,000-seater Kasarani venue following security breaches in Kenya’s previous matches.
- On Friday, President William Ruto urged Kenyan fans without tickets to watch the match at the designated fan zones across Nairobi.
President William Ruto has called on Kenyan football fans to maintain discipline during Kenya’s final Group 'A' match of the 2024 African Nations Championship (Chan) against Zambia on Sunday.
The match will be played at the 48,000-seater Moi International Sports Centre (MISC) Kasarani from 3pm. However, only 27,000 fans will be allowed into the stadium following security breaches in Kenya’s previous matches.
Speaking at State House in Nairobi on Friday, President Ruto urged fans without tickets to watch the match at the designated fan zones across Nairobi.
President William Ruto acknowledges greeting from Harambee Stars players when he met the Kenyan national team squad in Nairobi on August 11, 2025, following their victory over Morocco in the 2024 African Nations Championship.
"Fans and the people of Kenya, you have done a tremendous job cheering Harambee Stars, but we must do so within the parameters of the Confederation of African Football (CAF)," President Ruto said.
Cabinet Secretary for Public Service Geoffrey Ruku echoed similar sentiments.
“Let us demonstrate that we are capable of hosting major international tournaments by showing discipline and following the laid-down rules. Fans without tickets should not attempt to access the stadia,” Ruku said in Kajiado.
Caf has fined Football Kenya Federation (FKF) a total of Sh12.8 million due to several security and crowd control breaches witnessed during Group 'A' matches that have been held in Nairobi.
On Sunday, scores of fans jumped over the perimeter wall ahead of the highly- anticipated clash between Kenya and Morocco at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani. Kenya won the match 1-0.
Due to the Sunday's breaches, Caf fined Kenya Sh6.4 million and reduced the capacity of MISC, Kasarani to 27,000. Additionally, the Africa’s football governing body has warned that it would relocate Harambee Stars matches to either Uganda or Tanzania if there is a repeat of a security breach.
Zambia fans during the 2024 African Nations Championship Group 'A' match against DR Congo at Nyayo National Stadium in Nairobi on August 7, 2025.
The government, and the Local Organising Committee (LOC) have moved to mitigate crowd trouble at match venues by setting up six fan zones at Uhuru Park in Nairobi CBD, the Lucky Summer-Ngomongo area in the space behind Kasarani Stadium, the Dandora Stadium Utalii (Stima Club), the Jacaranda Grounds, and the Kibera DC Grounds.
According to LOC chairman Nicholas Musonye, all the six fan zones should be operational by Saturday evening.
On Friday, FKF, led by president Hussein Mohammed, held roadshows in Githurai and Baba Dogo estates in Nairobi to sensitise fans on the dangers of fan trouble in matches.
Hussein urged the fans not to cause trouble during Sunday’s match between Harambee Stars and Zambia.
“All the players in the national team have given their best, and the president (William Ruto) has rewarded them with bonuses,” said Hussein.
“Let us not spoil their day on Sunday by causing chaos at Kasarani. If you don’t have a ticket, watch the match at home or the fan zones while if you have one, show up early at the stadium to cheer the team,” he added.
