Fans take cover at Gusii Stadium in Kisii during the FKF Premier League match between Gor Mahia and Shabana FC on May 4, 2025.
Sunday’s ugly incidents at Gusii Stadium in Kisii were not isolated in Kenyan football.
On October 24, 2010, seven fans were killed in a stampede during a league match between AFC Leopards and Gor Mahia at Nyayo National Stadium.
Six people died at the stadium, while one person died later in hospital. The six died in a stampede at one of the gates as fans jostled to enter Nyayo National Stadium to watch what is one of the most popular fixtures on the local football scene.
Violence erupted at Gusii Stadium after Shabana and Gor Mahia fans clashed before the FKF Premier League match on May 4, 2025.
At the time, Kenyan Premier League Limited CEO Jack Oguda promised that investigations would be done to ascertain why fans couldn’t access Nyayo National Stadium as planned. Even with the death of the fans, the game was not stopped. Gor Mahia won 1-0.
Death of the seven fans drew the wrath of Fifa, and the world football governing body banned Nyayo National Stadium from hosting matches for two years. Fifa also reduced the stadium’s capacity from 35,000 to 25,000 so as to avoid such incidents in future.
In June, 20, 2005, Collins Miyawa who was a student at Lang’ata High School died in stampede at Nyayo National Stadium during a 2006 Fifa World Cup qualifier match between Harambee Stars and Morocco.
Ochilo Ayacko, who was Sports minister at the time, ordered five-day investigations into the death of the 15-year-old student.
He ordered Kenya Football Federation, Sports Stadia Management Board, and Kenya National Sports Council to compile an extensive report on the incident.
The stampede caused huge outcry as fans wondered why only two out of 11 gates were open for the game when a big turnout of fans was expected.
Fifa registered its disappointment with Kenya and ordered that the next World Cup qualifier match against Tunisia be played in an empty stadium. The local football federation was fined Sh1.4 million “for failing to ensure there was enough security at the 22,000-seater facility.
On November 11, 2023, journalists, players and match officials were forced to take cover on the pitch and were held hostage following chaos by Gor Mahia fans during their league match against Murang’a Seal at Kasarani Stadium.
Murangá Seal fans were also injured. On April 16, 2023, a league match between Kakamega Homeboyz and AFC Leopards at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega was abandoned after just 34 minutes of play due to crowd trouble.
Fans take cover at Gusii Stadium in Kisii during the FKF Premier League match between Gor Mahia and Shabana FC on May 4, 2025.
Scores were injured as police lobbed tear gas canisters in the air to disperse rowdy fans.
On September 16, 2023, a match between AFC Leopards and Muhoroni Youth at Kasarani Stadium witnessed chaotic scenes as Leopards fans threw objects onto the pitch, calling for the resignation of the clubs coach Tom Juma.
Police lobbed tear gas cannisters in the air to disperse the fans.
