Security lessons from Gor Mahia coronation in Kisumu

Elaborate security plans help in dealing with would-be trouble makers

What to pick from Sunday event devoid of any ugly shows.

The colourful crowning of Gor Mahia as 2018 SportPesa Premier League (SPL) champions in Kisumu on Sunday offered a rich lesson on security organisation.

The event at Moi Stadium in the lakeside city largely passed off without ugly incidents.

K’Ogalo received the trophy after a pulsating 2-2 draw against 2008 champions Mathare United with their supporters as expected, painting the town green and white to toast their beloved side that secured a record-extending 17th league title with six games to spare in August.

Drawing from past incidents and the threat of violence on the eve of the ceremony where a number of Gor fans engaged police in running battles in Nairobi on Saturday as they assembled to travel to Kisumu, match organisers laid out an elaborate security plan that contained rogue elements within the Green Army.

SportPesa Chief Security Officer Colonel (Rtd) Matthews Waria joined club officials, Football Kenya Federation, Kenyan Premier League, Kenya Police Service and the County Government of Kisumu in ensuring the coronation ceremony went on as planned.

“There were fears the event could backfire but it lived up to expectations,” Gor chairman, Ambrose Rachier, said after the trophy presentation.

“Our plan was to have a compact and friendly security plan in place to guarantee the safety of fans, players from both teams, dignitaries, visitors and those working within the stadium,” Waria, who earned his stripes at the Kenya Defence Forces as an astute combat operations strategist, said.

The presence of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who is also the club's Patron, elevated the risk of things getting out of hand but in the end, the security organisation served a template of how to handle hot-tempered fans.

Law enforcement officers did not fire any teargas canister into the crowd while there was no pre-mature pitch invasions like in 2015 and last year at the same venue when Gor players and technical staff were robbed the chance of posing for photos or parade the trophy by their over-exuberant supporters.

Police officers, over 100 stewards, 50 bouncers and county enforcement personnel were deployed within and outside the stadium with access strictly controlled by colour-coded wrist bands that were handed out at the gate.

This ensured those in charge of security marshalled fans to their designated areas.

From the onset, the stadium announcer insisted that only a few dignitaries would be allowed onto the pitch to present medals and the trophy and as soon as the final whistle went, stewards and bouncers threw two security cordons.

The first was around the centre circle where a rostrum had been quickly erected for the players to receive their prize and the second saw stewards surround the wire mesh barrier that encloses the stands.

Only one gate to the pitch from the VIP section was opened, funnelling the dignitaries through it with a team of well-built bouncers allowing only those who had business in the presentation through.

These simple but effective measures prevented an incursion to the pitch and after the official festivities were over, the fans were allowed to celebrate another title with their heroes.

“Above all, we made it very clear to the club that any fan misbehaving would be dealt with decisively and I’m grateful the message was passed down to all branches and supporters heeded and respected what we are trying to do,” Waria said.

“We are determined to work together,” Waria added.