Fans in the country will return to stadium- Sports Ministry

AFC Leopards SC fans cheer their team against Gor Mahia FC during their Kenyan Premier League match dubbed Mashemeji Derby at Kasarani stadium in Nairobi on March 08, 2020. Photo[Stafford Ondego, Standard]

The Ministry of Sports, Culture and Heritage has announced that it is ready to welcome back a limited number of stadium spectators.

This follows President Uhuru Kenyatta’s recent decision to lift the nationwide curfew imposed to contain COVID-19 in the country.

 “Following the H.E the President's announcement on revising the Covid-19 protocols and subsequent discussions between the Cabinet Secretary for Sports Amina Mohamed and the CS for Health Hon. Mutahi Kagwe, spectators will now be allowed into stadiums. Event organizers are expected to ensure they utilize upto 2/3rds capacity of the stadia,’ read the statement from the Sports Ministry.

For other events, a limited number of fans will be allowed with event organizers expected to provide prior written approvals.

“For local events, the event organizers shall be expected to provide prior written approvals of the number of spectators allowable for the event by the federation registered in  Kenya,” added the statement.

“For international events, a similar approval shall be required from the local and international federation. Further, event organizers must demonstrate to the Ministry and Sports Kenya, their capacity to secure and manage their spectators and property during such events. 

“All the other Resumption of Sports Protocols remain in force.”

The announcement comes after Gor Mahia issued a statement on Friday evening that the government has approved supporters to cheer the team during their CAF Confederations Cup clash against Al Ahly Merowe of Sudan on Sunday in Nairobi.

"Up to 10,000 fans will be allowed to watch our second leg CAF match against Al Ahly set for Sunday at Nyayo Stadium; the Ministry of Health and Federation have already approved," K’ogallo posted on its official social media pages.

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Up to 10,000 fans to be allowed to watch our second leg CAF match against Al Ahly set for Sunday at Nyayo Stadium; Ministry of Health and Federation already approved.

K'Ogaloooo.... Goooooor... Gor Mahia ????="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sirkal?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sirkal< | ="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Betsafe?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Betsafe< ="https://t.co/7862k4mc9D">pic.twitter.com/7862k4mc9D< — GOR MAHIA FC (@OfficialGMFC) ="https://twitter.com/OfficialGMFC/status/1451572914860462091?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 22, 2021<

The government banned fans from attending sporting venues in March 2020 when COVID-19 landed in the country.

In November 2020, the suspension of sporting activity was lifted, but the fans were left out unless in special cases where the Health and Sports ministries cleared them to attend in limited numbers.

Since then, the clamour to allow fans back to stadiums has grown louder in the face of mass political rallies as the country gears for the 2022 General Elections in August 2022.