Afcon: Security nightmare for FKF ahead of Stars match tomorrow

Harambee Stars during training at Kasarani Stadium ahead of AFCON group F return leg at Kasarani, Oct 12, 2018. [Jonah Onyango, Standard]

A security nightmare awaits Football Kenya Federation (FKF) in tomorrow’s Africa Cup of  Nations qualifier between Harambee Stars and Ethiopia at Kasarani.

This is after the government announced it was waiving gate charges for fans who will attend the match.

It is the first time that a decision has been made to allow fans free entry to watch Harambee Stars matches a move that is likely to see many people turn up at the venue.

The attendance is likely to rival that of 1997 when enthusiastic fans filled up Kasarani to cheer Harambee Stars take on Nigeria.

The federation said it will issue a statement today on how they intend to manage security during the crunch fixture.

“We are discussing how best to manage security during the match and will issue a comprehensive statement to the public today,” said FKF’s Head of Communications Barry Otieno.

However security expert Simiyu Werunga has challenged the federation to have a workable security system in place to ensure nothing goes wrong.

“Such should in essence lay-out key areas in the stadium and then ask the police to come in and assist them,” he said.

According to Werunga, the key areas that will need security tomorrow include the entrance and exits as well as public places.

“Enough policemen with the required tools should be stationed at all the exits, entrances and public places to ensure that no cars are broken into and that no property is destroyed,” added Werunga.

He said the policemen will only be responsible for controlling fans inside the stadium and any action outside the pitch should be dealt with separately preferably by anti-riot police. [Gilbert Wandera]