NAIROBI, Kenya — The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has been sanctioned with a KSh 2.5 million fine by the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following a series of security breaches at the CHAN 2024 opening match between Kenya and the DR Congo at Kasarani Stadium.
The penalty is a direct result of a detailed report from a CAF Security Officer, which highlighted multiple incidents that compromised the safety and integrity of the event.
According to the official report, the security failures included a stampede at entry Gate 11, which created a dangerous situation for fans.
A further risk was created when a motorbike was observed maneuvering through the crowd.
In addition, the report noted that supporters ignited fires behind the stands at Block 18, posing a significant hazard.
The report also outlined critical failures in protocol and access control. It stated that CAF staff and protocol officers were denied access to the VVIP area by State Security, a breach that notably affected a member of the South African President’s Close Protection Unit.
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These issues were compounded by an alleged assault on a CAF commercial staff member and a sponsor representative by a Falcon Private Security guard.
The hefty fine serves as a clear warning from CAF, underscoring its zero-tolerance policy on security and safety violations during its sanctioned tournaments.
These incidents cast a shadow on what was otherwise a historic day for Kenyan football, which saw the Harambee Stars secure a crucial 1-0 victory, defeating the DR Congo (DRC) in their opening match on home soil..
The FKF is now tasked with addressing these security shortcomings to prevent future incidents, as the nation’s reputation as a tournament host is now under scrutiny.
