NAIROBI, Kenya — The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has been hit with a total of KSh 9 million in fines from the Confederation of African Football (CAF) following a series of repeated safety and security lapses during the CHAN 2024 tournament.
The sanctions were imposed after a CAF Disciplinary Board investigation into crowd control failures at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani.
The most substantial penalty, a fine of K Sh 6.5 million ($50,000), was levied for the match against Morocco.
The disciplinary board’s report cited numerous breaches, including fans storming stadium gates without tickets, overrunning perimeter fences, and a lack of adequate police intervention to control the chaotic scenes.
This fine comes on the heels of an earlier KSh 2.5 million penalty for similar incidents during Kenya’s tournament opener against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on August 3.
The repeated failures have prompted a stern warning from CAF, indicating that continued lapses could result in the relocation of Kenya’s national team matches to alternative venues.
In an effort to mitigate further issues, CAF has implemented strict new measures for all remaining home matches at Kasarani. The stadium’s capacity has been capped at 27,000 spectators, and access is now strictly limited to electronic ticket holders, with thermal paper tickets being banned.
Also Read: Explainer: Why Harambee Stars could be forced to play CHAN matches in Uganda, Tanzania
The FKF has also been directed to deploy more security personnel and enforce road closures on match days to better manage crowd control and ensure the safety of all attendees.
The total sum of the fines underscores the seriousness of the situation, placing immense pressure on the FKF to significantly improve its matchday operations.
This is particularly crucial given Kenya’s role as a co-host for the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, a major continental event that will require impeccable security standards.