Chaos erupt outside Mashujaa Day celebrations venue in Machakos

Thousands of people outside Kenyatta stadium after they were locked out for lack of space during the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Machakos on 20th October, 2016. [PHOTO: JOHN MUIA/STANDARD]

Several people were injured after chaos erupted outside Kenyatta Stadium in Machakos town, the venue of this year’s Mashujaa Day national celebrations.

Trouble started when thousands of citizens who had been locked out of the venue due to the limited space inside the stadium attempted to force their way in, moments after President Uhuru Kenyatta arrived.

Officers drawn from the Administration Police, General Service Unit, Anti-riot police as well as the National Youth Service (NYS) swung into action to disperse the agitated crowd that was chanting "haki yetu" (our right) slogan.

Dozens of people sustained injuries, one of them critical, after a stampede outside the stadium but were rushed to Machakos Level 5 referral hospital in ambulances as the crowd protested against brutality of NYS officers.

"Why do you want to kill me on Mashujaa Day and I am not armed or a threat to anybody's security?" shouted one of the victims of brutal beatings by NYS officers.

One journalist who was filming the fracas was also beaten up and ordered to shut his camera.

Kenyatta Stadium, which can only accommodate a maximum of 20,000 people, was already filled as early as 7.30 in the morning forcing a larger number of Kenyans who attended the celebrations to stay outside.

Security agents comprising Kenya Defense Forces (KDF), the Administration Police (APs) as well as officers from the National Youth Service (NYS) had a difficult time controlling a crowd that milled outside the stadium.

Several citizens expressed their disappointment for missing the opportunity to book a space inside the stadium, even after travelling hundreds of miles to participate in the event.

"This is a total disappointment. After having travelled from as far as Western Kenya, I didn't expect to miss out inside the stadium to witness the event live," said one of the victims.