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A pre-match stampede at Kisii’s Gusii Stadium left 66 supporters requiring hospitalization ahead of Sunday’s Kenyan Premier League clash between Shabana FC and Gor Mahia, marking one of the worst crowd safety incidents this season.
The dangerous overcrowding situation developed at 3:00 PM local time – a full 120 minutes before the scheduled 5:00 PM kickoff – at the provincial stadium designed to hold just 5,000 spectators. Witnesses reported all entry gates were already overwhelmed by surging crowds when the stampede began.
Violence erupted between opposing fan groups minutes before the stampede, with multiple eyewitnesses confirming exchanges of stone-throwing and other dangerous projectiles near the stadium’s main gates.
The projectile exchange rapidly escalated into mass panic, sending thousands trampling toward exits until GSU paramilitary forces deployed tear gas and riot shields to establish containment lines around the stadium’s perimeter.
The Football Kenya Federation acknowledged the incident in an official release, confirming medical interventions occurred across multiple facilities. Their declaration cited coordinated reports from:
• Kisii Teaching and Referral Hospital
• Tabaka Mission Hospital
• Nyamira County Hospital
• St. Vincent’s Medical Center
alongside verified police incident logs.
The FKF declared, “We strongly condemn the violence that occurred.” “Football must continue to be a unifying activity rather than a life-threatening one. It is crucial that officials, players, and fans are safe. We are collaborating closely with law enforcement to identify the incident’s cause, and after investigations are finished, we will implement the necessary disciplinary measures.
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Since October 2010, when seven spectators, including a young woman, were killed during a derby match between Gor Mahia and AFC Leopards in Nairobi, the stampede represents the most significant stadium-related tragedy in Kenya.
The Confederation of African Football (CAF) suspended Nyayo National Stadium as a result of that incident. Only recently was the stadium approved to host international games once more following years of repairs and safety inspections.
The Football Kenya Federation, in collaboration with Kisii County security forces, has launched a comprehensive investigation into Sunday’s tragic events. Authorities have pledged to implement strengthened safety protocols and pursue legal action against identified instigators.
