A tragic incident unfolded at Jamhuri Grounds in Nairobi on Sunday evening when a football fan lost his life after being stoned during a violent clash between rival supporters. Five other fans sustained serious injuries and were rushed to the hospital for medical attention.
According to police reports and witness accounts, the violence erupted during a match sponsored by a betting company when fans from opposing sides engaged in a heated disagreement. The altercation, allegedly triggered by dissatisfaction with refereeing decisions, escalated rapidly, leading to chaos as stones, seats, and other objects were hurled. The violence spilled onto the pitch, forcing the game to be halted as players sought safety from the aggressive crowd.
Nairobi police boss George Sedah confirmed the tragic death, adding that the injured fans were admitted to the hospital in stable condition. He noted that police had not been informed in advance about the match, which would have allowed them to provide adequate security.
“We are talking to the organizers of the game as part of the investigation into this tragedy. Police had not been notified in time to plan properly,” said Sedah.
Authorities swiftly responded to the mayhem, arresting three suspects linked to the violence. Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances that led to the deadly confrontation and to prevent future occurrences of such unfortunate incidents in local football events.
Meanwhile, another violent encounter led to the death of a tout in a separate incident in the Huruma area, Nairobi. Kennedy Oduor, a 40-year-old tout affiliated with Huruma Sacco, met his untimely death after a road rage altercation with a cart pusher. The incident occurred when Oduor accidentally hit the suspect’s handcart, which was loaded with water jerricans, while reversing his matatu in Sokoni area.
The enraged cart pusher confronted Oduor and punched him, causing him to fall headfirst onto the tarmac. He sustained severe head injuries and was rushed to the MSF clinic along Juja Road, where he was pronounced dead while undergoing treatment. Police later tracked down and arrested the suspect, who is now in custody pending his arraignment for murder.
Both incidents underscore the rising cases of violence in public spaces, prompting authorities to reinforce security measures to curb such tragedies.
