FKF is gearing up for another exciting football event this coming Sunday—the Mashemeji Derby, one of Kenya’s most anticipated matches.
Football Kenya Federation (FKF) President Hussein Mohammed has expressed his gratitude to Kenyan football fans for their overwhelming support during the Harambee Stars' match against Gabon on Sunday. He thanked the passionate crowd for filling the stands, calling it a reflection of Kenya’s deep love for the game.
"Seeing Harambee Stars play at home after years away was a special moment," Mohammed said in his statement. “The energy and passion in the stands were truly remarkable, and I also want to thank the players, technical bench, match officials and everyone involved in making this event a success. A big thank you as well to the Government of Kenya for their continued support.”
Despite the excitement surrounding the match, Mohammed acknowledged that there were challenges on matchday, particularly with stadium access. The overwhelming turnout caused congestion at the gates, and FKF is already looking at ways to improve the matchday experience for future events. One of the solutions being implemented is the introduction of faster ticket scanners to ease entry into the stadium.
"We understand that we need to improve the matchday experience for our fans," Mohammed said. "We’re prioritizing the training of more matchday personnel to ensure smoother operations in the future."
The FKF President also emphasized the need for better VVIP hospitality to meet the expectations of fans who pay for premium experiences. "We want to make sure that every fan gets the treatment they deserve, and we’re working hard to improve in this area," he said, aiming to make attending national team matches a world-class experience.
On a different note, Mohammed addressed the allegations of ticket hoarding that surfaced before the game. There were claims that senior FKF officials had bought large quantities of tickets and were reselling them at inflated prices. While these claims sparked public outrage, Mohammed clarified that investigations were underway.
"We’ve already checked the backend system with Tikiti, the company responsible for ticketing, and so far, we haven’t found any unusual activity," he said. "We need to substantiate these allegations. It’s important not to jump to conclusions based on what’s shared on social media. We’re committed to investigating this thoroughly and will act if any wrongdoing is found."
He called on anyone with evidence of ticket scalping to come forward and assist in the investigation, stressing that at this stage, the allegations remain unverified. "As of now, we don’t have evidence of bulk purchases as suggested by the allegations," Mohammed explained. "If anyone has concrete evidence, we encourage them to bring it forward so we can act accordingly."
In a separate clarification, Mohammed addressed the confusion over the attendance at the Harambee Stars vs Gabon match. FKF had initially claimed on social media that the Nyayo National Stadium was sold out, but he later revealed that only 17,130 of the 22,900 tickets available were sold, leaving over 5,000 tickets unsold.
"To clear up any confusion, the stadium was not sold out," he said. "We sold 17,130 tickets and there were 5,770 tickets left. We apologize for any misunderstandings that may have occurred."
Looking ahead, FKF is gearing up for another exciting football event this coming Sunday—the Mashemeji Derby, one of Kenya’s most anticipated matches. Mohammed encouraged fans to turn out in large numbers and create a festive atmosphere, echoing the positive energy from the previous match. "League matches should provide a great matchday experience, and we encourage fans to maintain a peaceful environment while supporting their teams with passion," he said.
FKF is also preparing for the upcoming CHAN tournament in August and is determined to ensure a seamless experience for players, fans and officials. Mohammed stressed that the lessons learned from Sunday’s match would help refine their operations moving forward. "We are committed to ensuring that future events, including the CHAN tournament, are seamless for both the fans and players," he said.
Mohammed also reiterated his thanks to all the fans who attended Sunday’s match, expressing optimism that Kenyan football is on the right path. "Together, we will restore the pride of Kenyan football," he concluded.