Interior Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo has issued a warning to football fans ahead of the CHAN 2024 tournament, cautioning against unruly behaviour such as jumping over stadium walls and using fake tickets.
In a statement on Friday, August 1, Omollo assured the public that safety and crowd management measures have been activated ahead of the tournament.
“As tens of thousands of fans are expected in and around stadiums, the Government, through interministerial coordination, has put in place measures to ensure the safety, enjoyment and confidence for all who come to Kasarani and Nyayo Stadiums,” he said.
Omollo said measures will include strict sectional seating protocols, well-trained stewards, layered perimeter controls, and early ticket verification to prevent surges and stampedes.
“CHAN 2024 has put in place strict sectional seating protocols, well-trained stewards, and layered perimeter controls to ensure fans can enter and exit in waves, not surges.
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"Unruly behaviour such as jumping on walls and over barriers is strictly forbidden and will be dealt with. Communication will be real-time, and fan marshals will guide movements," he added.
Omollo explained that the switch to fully digital ticketing is meant to curb fraud, warning that anyone caught using fake tickets will face legal action.
"The shift to 100% digital ticketing is designed to eliminate fraud. Any attempts to gain entry using counterfeit tickets will not only lead to denial of access but also legal consequences.
"Security personnel are trained to detect and flag fake confirmations. Ticket verification will happen 1KM from the stadium to avoid disrupting the flow and only allowing the rightful fans into the stadium," he stated.
Additionally, Omollo noted that enhanced security measures have been put in place to guard against terrorism threats, political disturbances, pitch invasions, and hooliganism.
“As a high-level globally watched event, counter has been, intelligence services, and anti-riot forces have activated an interagency protocol, with advanced recognition, surveillance, and emergency response coordination built. There has also been advanced training of stewards and Police for every match-day operation.
“Fans are urged to stay alert, avoid distractions and report suspicious behaviour – the ministry has operationalised a CHAN Security hotline to aid in this. CHAN 2024 security apparatus will have tactical response units to handle disruptive scenarios swiftly, backed by legal prosecution where necessary," he further said.
Emergency medical readiness has also been prioritized, with Omollo confirming that multiple health safety systems are already in place at both stadiums.
"Sudden illness, injuries, or crowd stress are scenarios that have been anticipated as possible medical emergencies. Every stadium will have emergency medical tents, trained first responders, and ambulance support stationed at key access points.
"A joint emergency command center will coordinate rapid medical response. Additionally, each stadium has a well mapped out plan to the nearest medical facilities for speedy action," he said.
On transportation, fans have been advised to use buses provided by the organisers and avoid driving to the stadiums.
"Buses will be at hand to transport fans into the venue. No fan cars will be allowed into the Stadium, so come ready to walk to the stadium. Surveillance and patrol units will extend to access roads, drop-off zones, and fan transit areas to provide the needed safety for fans in and out of the stadium, especially for night games. Fans are urged to plan their route in advance and use approved transport channels," he concluded.
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