A Kenyan woman, identified as Karen Lojore, has died following a stampede at a concert by Nigerian artiste, Asake in Nairobi.
The incident occurred on Saturday at Nyayo Stadium, where thousands of fans had gathered for the event.
According to information gathered by NPO Reports, the stampede broke out when the crowd attempted to gain entry into the venue.
Kenyan media outlet, Ghetto Radio reported that the concert was affected by poor ticket planning, with congestion building up at the stadium’s entry points.
The situation reportedly worsened due to delays in admitting attendees, leading to overcrowding outside the venue.
Following the incident, Kenya’s Kodong Clan announced its withdrawal from the event, citing disrespect and poor treatment by the organisers.
Friends and acquaintances of the deceased took to social media to mourn her death, expressing shock that she lost her life despite having a valid ticket for the concert.
Poet and activist Willie Oeba also confirmed the incident in a social media post, describing the circumstances surrounding her death as tragic.
Eyewitnesses alleged that slow crowd control by stewards at the entry points contributed to the buildup of large crowds. According to the accounts, police intervention to manage the situation escalated tensions, leading to panic as people attempted to flee. Some attendees reportedly shouted that they could not breathe during the chaos.
The incident has drawn comparisons to a previous tragedy at Asake’s concert at the O2 Brixton Academy in London on December 15, 2022, where a crowd crush resulted in two deaths and left several others critically injured.