African football’s governing body has taken drastic action following a series of alarming security breaches during Kenya’s recent home matches at Kazuomi Stadium. The Confederation of African Football (CAF) has declared the incidents, including crowd control failures, unauthorized use of force, and violence against personnel, pose “unacceptable risks” and demand immediate intervention.
Despite prior warnings and sanctions, CAF states Kenyan authorities failed to implement necessary safety protocols. A damning list of security lapses includes unauthorized opening of stadium gates, allowing uncontrolled spectator access, particularly noted at the Ngomoram Donaldbock area. The situation escalated dangerously with reports of tear gas and water cannon deployments causing panic, and disturbingly, alleged firing of live ammunition near spectators and staff.
Further failures involved violent incidents where stones were thrown at security personnel, unsafe vehicle movements within spectator zones, inadequate emergency response channels, and a concerning lack of proper medical reporting for injuries sustained. Critical security infrastructure was also deemed insufficient, with poor CCTV coverage at key entry points.
In response, CAF has mandated strict new conditions for all upcoming Kenyan home fixtures at Kazuomi Stadium. The key measures are:
- Severe Capacity Restriction: Attendance will be slashed to a maximum of 27,000 spectators, significantly below the stadium’s full capacity.
- Electronic-Only Ticketing: Entry will be strictly limited to holders of valid electronic tickets. Physical paper tickets are explicitly prohibited.
- Public Safety Campaign: The Local Organizing Committee (LOC) and Kenyan government must urgently launch a widespread public media campaign to educate fans on safety protocols and the new electronic entry requirements.
CAF has issued a stark warning, demanding “full and immediate compliance” with these directives. The governing body emphasized that failure to implement these measures swiftly and effectively could result in “serious sanctions,” including the potential relocation of Kenya’s future home matches to alternative venues outside the country.
The unprecedented restrictions underline CAF’s deep concern over the integrity of its competitions and the safety of all participants and spectators. The governing body stated the measures are essential to “protect the competition’s integrity, restore fair play rules, and uphold confidence in Kenya’s commitment” to hosting international football. Pressure is now firmly on Kenyan authorities to demonstrate significant and rapid improvements in stadium security management.
