FKF vows tough action after violence mars Shabana vs Gor Mahia match

The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has condemned the violent scenes that disrupted the highly anticipated match between Shabana and Gor Mahia at Gusii Stadium.

The clash, which was scheduled to begin at 2 pm, turned chaotic after fans from both sides started throwing stones at each other, resulting in several injuries.

In a statement, FKF described the violence as unacceptable and stressed that football should always bring people together rather than create conflict.

The federation said it is already working with relevant authorities to uncover the cause of the unrest and take appropriate disciplinary steps.

"FKF strongly condemns all forms of violence in our stadiums. Football must remain a sport that brings people together, not one that puts lives at risk. The safety and well-being of fans, players, and officials remain a top priority for the Federation," read the statement.

The federation noted that it had launched investigations to identify those responsible for the violence.

"We are working closely with the relevant authorities to establish the circumstances that led to the unrest. Decisive disciplinary measures will be taken upon conclusion of ongoing investigations," the federation added.

FKF president Hussein Mohammed also weighed in, saying firm action would follow and the incident must not be taken lightly.

"It’s time for more action and less talk. What happened today at Gusii Stadium is unacceptable. Violence has no place in our game. FKF will act decisively. We owe it to our fans, players, and the future of Kenyan football," said Mohammed.

According to reports from the scene, the trouble began before kickoff in the regular section where fans from both teams were seated.

A video from the incident showed supporters hurling stones while others ran for safety, trying to escape the escalating tension.

As the clashes intensified, stadium announcers repeatedly called on fans to stay calm, but the calls were ignored.

The situation worsened, forcing urgent calls for ambulances to attend to those who had been injured in the confrontation.

Fans from both teams continued to throw stones from two separate stands, with neither side backing down.

The chaos left several supporters nursing injuries, even as stadium officials and security tried to bring the situation under control.

Despite efforts to calm the crowd, the violence only grew worse, and many were forced to flee the venue.

When matters finally cooled, it was well past the kick-off time for the match, where the home side, Shabana, lost 1-0 to Gor Mahia.

The federation has since promised to ensure that those responsible for the incident face justice and that similar incidents do not happen again.

FKF maintained that safety at football events will remain a priority and pledged to follow through on its warnings with firm action.