High attendance reveals infrastructure, security underbelly of Nyayo Stadium

It could have been the result of aggressive social media campaigns on Tiktok. Or the Benni McCarthy effect, that former assistant coach of Manchester United and Bafana Bafana all-time top scorer who is bound to be a crowd puller wherever he goes. 

It could have been the opponents, Gabon, and their star power led by Gabonese ace Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang. Or the fact that Harambee stars have not played on Kenyan soil for more than two years, who knows?

Whatever the catalyst, Kenyan fans came in their numbers for Sunday’s 2026 World Cup qualifier against Gabon, and, the heartbreaking 2-1 loss aside, they seemed to have had a blast. 

Gate collection was a mouth-watering Sh7 million which Football Kenya Federation pocketed from ticket sales via online purchase.

It was the first time these figures were being made public, signalling a refreshing break from the previous administration that chose to keep such matters secret.

Allegations of ticket hoarding by FKF officials past and former, and overselling by Tikiti.com remain unproven, and those who move within football circles remain united in the view that Sunday was one of the best days for in Kenyan football in recent times. 

But despite the encouraging turnout and impressive support for Harambee Stars, the match uncovered various infrastructural, managerial and security challenges that all stakeholders including government, security agencies and the new office led by Hussein Mohammed must now tackle ahead of Kenya’s hosting of 2024 Chan in August.

“We acknowledge that Sunday’s match came with challenges, particularly regarding stadium access due to the overwhelming turnout. We are working on solutions to ease stadium entry and prevent congestion, as well as improve hospitality for VIP fans,” said FKF President Hussein Mohammed yesterday. 

Those who know say that for a worthwhile match day experience, on-pitch action must be accompanied by a failsafe security procedure to guarantee safety of fans, players and match officials.

Gates opened at 11am but walking into the stadium at around 2pm, you got the sense that the tickets had either been oversold, or thousands of people had entered the stadium without a ticket.

A quick glance at the fans seated around the media centre and VIP area revealed that most had neither arm bands to show that they had bought tickets, nor tags to prove their media credentials.

“Safety and security can only be achieved by establishing a balance of good management and a well-designed infrastructure,” says GMT Ottieno, former Chief of Technical Services, Safety and Security at the Kenyan Premier League.

On management, organisers of Sunday’s match put impressive efforts – first by establishing an efficient online ticket purchasing system that was a first in Kenyan football.

Tickets sold out a day before the match, a great improvement from yesteryears where fans could be seen scrambling for tickets on match day while stakeholders often fell prey to fraudsters who sold fake tickets to desperate fans at the gate.

There were also a number of uniformed police officers on sight, including on horseback. The fact that they were nowhere near close to matching the size of the swelling crowd only suggests that someone under estimated the crowd that turned up for the match.

“In that regard we were victims of our own success. We will continue refining these aspects to make attending national team games a world-class experience,” said the FKF boss.

The effect of the outnumbered police was that they were unable to scan or verify tickets, or even carry out bag searches to prevent dangerous items from entering.

Stewards could have helped with this, but they were also overwhelmed with their work of providing information to supporters and helping navigate people from point A to point B.

As a result, there was no emphasis on getting people to their right seat or other areas of the stadium using the safest and quickest route.

But it is in the infrastructure where the greatest problem lay. Nyayo stadium, which has been closed three times in the last five years and gobbled billions in taxpayers monies, was still sporting the very same challenges of yesteryears.

“I have not seen any change in terms of the setup at Nyayo Stadium, particularly on aspects to do with safety of fans. With all the money that has been spent, I expected to see at least a canopy to shield fans from rain or sun, and systems to control entry,” GMT Ottieno says.

Well, an objective observer will report that the playing surface is superb, and that the changing rooms are succinct and fitted with modern equipment including an ice bath.

The seats are also comfortable and of good quality. But, for a stadium that is “90 per cent complete”, according to FKF CEO Harold Ndege who was also a member of the Finance Committee, there seems to be little efforts made to ensure the safety of fans, players and stadium staff.

“The major work is over. The only remaining bit is the canopy and the perimeter wall. That will be completed before we host Chan in August,” says Zachary Juma, an electrical engineer and one of the contractors at Nyayo Stadium told us yesterday.

At the very least, one would expect walk-through metal detectors or even handheld scanners to provide detailed security screening at the various entry points.

These systems are deployed in match venues across the world as they play a critical role in preventing lighters, sharp objects, and illegal substances from entering the stadium.

At Nyayo, there still are no control systems to restrict unauthorised access to sensitive areas like the VIP and media centre, and the result was that the two grills that separate the VIP dais from the regular area were both broken.

Fans then gained unfettered access to the VVIP area much to the chagrin of premium ticket buyers.

“It is so funny that I paid Sh10,000 to purchase a VVIP ticket and I couldn’t find a seat,” lamented a fan on X.

According to figures released by FKF, 107 fans bought VVIP tickets for the match.

Modern stadiums such as Emirates in London, which this reporter has visited, are usually fitted with turnstile systems which are manned by police officers. These equipment help to regulate the entry and exit of personnel and limit access to specific areas. 

These are non-existent at Nyayo, yet these systems play a highly important role especially in the Kenyan scene where hooliganism and indiscipline seem to run in the blood of football fans. 

Apart from restricting unauthorised entry, turnstiles can help to enforce queuing, which could prevent incidents where fans bring down a gate and gain free access.

“In such a match, verification of tickets should be done outside the stadium, ticket holders should queue in a single file with police on both sides. Without this, you will have problems,” GMT opines. 

Perhaps the greatest evidence of the security lapses that were witnessed on Sunday was the sight of a fan jumping over the barrier and running pitch wards to join Gabonese striker Pierre Aubameyang in celebrating his first goal of the day.

The intruder was dragged out of the pitch in good time and no harm came upon the former Arsenal striker or his jubilant teammates, but it pointed to the huge work that still needs to be done to elevate the stadium to international levels. 

It goes without saying that a fan who can gain access to the pitch just to catch a glimpse of his favourite player can also try to enter players’ locker rooms or other sensitive zones.

It is for this reason that modern match venues such as the Allianz Arena, which this writer has also visited twice, use magnetic card access systems, which require one to swipe a special pass before entering restricted areas such as changing rooms and administrative offices.

These remain a pipe dream in Kenya even as politicians and clout chasers boast of having built ultra-modern stadiums across the country.

To prevent car theft, organisers of the match incorporated the use of car passes, of which 329 were issued. 

However, stadiums with proper infrastructure have Vehicle Access Control Systems where motorists are issued with an electronic card, complete with a unique number, that is redeemable upon exit. This not only protects cars and controls the entry of vehicles around the stadium, it can also help prevent theft and vandalism.

“Such a match should lead to road closure. Close Aerodrome road and have one lane on Lang’ata Road, and one on Uhuru Highway.

Barriers should be created far from the stadium. One from Langata and another one at Nyayo Stadium roundabout. Scanning of tickets should be done outside the outer perimeter fence. Once a spectator gains entry, they should be guided by stewards on which gate to use,” says Steve Okwato, who was a security officer attached to Nick Mwendwa’s administration, and a former Project Development Coordinator at FKF.

“Once inside the perimeter, it should be free flow without any hustle at the gates. Inner gates should remain wide open for easy access to all the rightful ticket holders with very minimal security. Heavy deployment should be done outside the stadium.”

All said and done, Harambee Stars fans couldn’t give a toss about the defeat, or the security and infrastructural lapses. 

They shed no tears for the team. They had no unkind words for the worthy Gabonese opponents or the newly appointed McCarthy.

They were busy applauding Eric “Marcelo” Ouma for his awesome performance, and turning the air electric, their call-and-response singsong reverberating off the concrete. It was truly a day to remember.