Nigerian music superstar Asake finally made his much-anticipated appearance at Nyayo Stadium as part of his Mr Money African Tour, drawing thousands of enthusiastic Kenyan fans eager to witness the hitmaker perform live.
While the concert itself delivered an energetic performance that thrilled attendees, the event was marred by serious challenges, including heavy rainfall and chaotic scenes at the stadium gates as revellers struggled to gain entry. The situation raised immediate concerns over crowd safety.
Citizen TV news presenter Immanuel Ndungu, who attended the concert, gave a detailed account of how the chaos unfolded. Large crowds had gathered early at the main entrance, but the available access points were too small to accommodate the surge. Security personnel initially organised two queues—one for men and one for women—but the system quickly broke down as impatient fans began pushing forward and forming new lines.
Matters worsened when entry was temporarily halted for about 30 minutes, heightening frustration and tension. Law enforcement officers intervened, allegedly using force, which only escalated panic. Later, stewards attempted to manage the flow by allowing small groups of ten people to enter at a time, but this measure triggered further surging as fans desperately tried to get inside.
Amid the chaos, unverified reports suggested at least one fatality, though no official confirmation was immediately provided. Ndungu noted that, unlike past incidents, the majority of those who breached security had purchased tickets, highlighting the desperation of fans and the unsafe conditions they faced. He shared video footage showing congestion in a tunnel leading into the stadium, with scenes of panic, crying, and abandoned possessions. Paramedics reportedly attended to at least one person during the confusion.
Despite the gate chaos, the concert eventually went on and was largely successful. However, the incident left organisers under heavy criticism and raised pressing questions about crowd control, security planning, and safety measures at large-scale entertainment events in Kenya.
