The much-anticipated Raha Festival, which promised to be a vibrant celebration of music, took an unexpected and chaotic turn last night, leaving both fans and performers, particularly international dancehall artist Shenseea, highly disappointed. What was set to be a thrilling performance by the Jamaican superstar was abruptly cut short, as a security breach led to confusion and the intervention of police.
As Shenseea hit the stage to electrify the crowd, things quickly spiraled out of control. The arrival of uninvited attendees and a sudden breach of the venue’s security created a chaotic atmosphere. In response, police launched teargas into the crowd in an attempt to disperse the growing unrest, causing panic among concert-goers and forcing Shenseea to abandon her performance after just a few minutes.
The incident, which left fans visibly upset, sparked a wave of frustration on social media. Shenseea herself took to X (formerly Twitter), expressing her displeasure: “Now Kenya, I’m a lil mad at y’all ngl.” Her sentiment was echoed by disappointed fans who questioned the organizers’ competence. Some users directed their frustrations at the event’s promoters, accusing them of mishandling the situation, while others took a more humorous approach, offering a cheeky apology. One user, @Osengo_, quipped, “Somebody tell her that we Shenseeally apologize.”
The Raha Festival debacle is not an isolated incident. This disruption follows a pattern of poorly organized events in Kenya during December. Earlier in the month, the Furaha Festival also faced its own chaos. Tanzanian superstar Diamond Platnumz, who was set to headline the event, left the venue without performing, citing security concerns and disorganization. His departure, along with the cancellation of other performances, led to widespread criticism of the festival’s promoters. Diamond, who was reportedly paid $150,000 for the event, defended his decision, stating, “I cannot be paid $150,000 and then come fight to perform on stage.”
Fans have become increasingly frustrated with the growing number of concerts and festivals that fail to meet expectations, pointing to poor planning, lack of security, and logistical issues as common themes. Event promoters, however, often attribute these problems to unpredictable circumstances, such as scheduling conflicts or unforeseen disruptions.
The Raha Festival’s cancellation of Shenseea’s performance underscores a troubling trend in Kenya’s entertainment scene, where organizational failures continue to tarnish the experience for both artists and audiences. With such incidents becoming more frequent, it remains to be seen if event organizers will take the necessary steps to restore confidence in Kenya’s live music scene.
