Mashujaa Day: Anger, frustration as hundreds locked out of Kipchoge Keino Stadium before dawn

Hundreds of Kenyans who spent a freezing night outside Eldoret’s Kipchoge Keino Stadium hoping to witness the 63rd Mashujaa Day celebrations were locked out before dawn on Tuesday, triggering anger, frustration and chaotic scenes at the gates of the venue.

By 2.30am, all stands at the renovated 15,000-capacity stadium were full, and by 3am, security officers had shut the gates, turning away thousands who had travelled from across Uasin Gishu, Nandi, Elgeyo Marakwet and other parts of the country to join the historic occasion.

For many who were locked out, the disappointment came after hours in the biting cold, sitting or standing on concrete pavements through the night, convinced that arriving early would secure them a place inside the stadium. Police struggled to contain surging crowds as disappointed Kenyans demanded entry, with some accusing organisers of shutting out ordinary citizens from a celebration in their own county.

Instead, they found themselves stranded outside as police officers and other security personnel struggled to control the swelling crowds, with tensions rising as more people pressed towards the entrances.

By 6.30am, the areas around the stadium were packed with massive crowds of people who had been denied entry, many of whom remained outside rather than return home.

Among those locked out were members of the UDA Women of Ruto Two-Tam movement, who protested after being denied entry, arguing that they should have been recognised as an invited group.

“This is our day for celebrations; why are you mistreating us like this? Remember, this is our county and we have the right to enter the stadium,” one woman shouted.

Also among those caught up in the disappointment was Mr Edward Rono, who travelled from Moiben and arrived at the stadium at 8pm on Monday night, only to be turned away hours later.

“I came all the way from Moiben and I have been blocked from entering the stadium. I am told it is full, but how can that be after we sacrificed our entire night outside the gates?” he asked.

His frustration was shared by Ms Irene Jepkoech, who travelled overnight from Turbo, hoping to witness the celebrations and catch a glimpse of national leaders.

“We left our homes yesterday because we wanted to be part of history here in Eldoret. We spent the whole night in the cold, expecting that loyalty and early arrival would earn us a seat, but we have been treated like outsiders in our own town,” she said.

Mr Joshua Kiplagat, who arrived at the venue at about 2am, said residents deserved an opportunity to witness the historic event being hosted in their county.

“This is a historic event being hosted in our county and we should be allowed to mark it in the stadium,” he said.

The growing frustration spilled into confrontations at the entrances, where police officers used force to disperse crowds and prevent congestion from escalating into further disorder.

Members of the UDA Women of Ruto Two-Tam movement, who attempted to access the stadium but were ordered to leave the entrance, protested that they were being mishandled despite being supporters of the President, who had a special invitation.

Despite their protests, the group failed to gain entry and eventually returned to their buses.

Inside the stadium, the atmosphere was euphoric, with music playing through the night to entertain the thousands who had secured places ahead of the historic celebrations. Excitement filled the arena as members of the public sang along and reveled in the moment, their anticipation building ahead of the national fete. The lively mood contrasted sharply with the anger and frustration outside the gates, where thousands of other Kenyans remained stranded after being denied entry.
 

Tight security as thousands are turned away

The stadium and its surroundings were under heavy security, with police officers, military personnel, National Youth Service (NYS) officers, county enforcement teams and other security agencies deployed to maintain order.

Security personnel manned checkpoints, screened people seeking entry and checked identification documents and accreditation cards. Biometric scanners and frisking procedures were also used at the entrances to regulate access.

Only guests, accredited individuals and authorised groups were permitted into the stadium, leaving members of the public without the required identification stranded outside.

The crowd included students from junior and senior schools, NYS members, traditional cultural groups, political supporters and other invited participants expected to take part in activities during the celebrations.

The large numbers attempting to enter the venue created congestion at the screening points, forcing security officers to intervene as crowds surged towards the gates.

Authorities had earlier said the heightened security measures were intended to prevent lawlessness during the national event.

“Security has been enforced to ensure that no act of lawlessness occurs during the ceremony,” Hassan Abdi said during an earlier security briefing.

Organisers indicated that those locked out would have to follow the proceedings through giant screens mounted outside the facility or from nearby vantage points.

By the time the national celebrations officially got under way inside the packed stadium, thousands of hopeful attendees remained outside, with security officers continuing to manage the restless crowds.

We want bigger stadium, residents say

The high turnout came as final preparations continued at the stadium, which has undergone a major facelift ahead of the national event, although some construction work remained incomplete.

The celebrations placed Eldoret at the centre of the country's national calendar, presenting the city with an opportunity to demonstrate its ability to host major State functions while also exposing the logistical challenges of accommodating large crowds at a venue with limited capacity.

The early closure of the gates renewed questions about whether the 15,000-capacity stadium was large enough to accommodate the number of people hoping to attend the celebrations.

Mr Alex Tanui, who travelled from Elgeyo Marakwet, said he arrived at 2am but could not gain entry because the venue was already full.

“We came here at 2am from Elgeyo Marakwet, but we cannot access the stadium because it’s already full. The government should have chosen a bigger stadium,” he said.

 
North Rift unites to host national fete

Despite the frustrations outside the stadium, the celebrations mark a historic moment for the North Rift, with Uasin Gishu, Nandi and Elgeyo Marakwet counties co-hosting the national event for the first time.

Being held under the theme “Security, Sports and the Economy”, Mashujaa Day is celebrated annually to honour Kenya’s heroes and heroines.

The three counties shared responsibilities for activities leading up to the main event in Eldoret, including cultural programmes, preparations and sporting competitions.

Uasin Gishu hosted football tournaments, Nandi hosted volleyball competitions, while Elgeyo Marakwet hosted athletics events.

The week-long programme was designed to promote unity, cohesion and peace among communities in the North Rift, with residents welcoming the decision to bring the national celebrations to the region.

Mr Titus Kipchirchir, a resident of Nandi County, thanked the government for allowing the three counties to co-host the event, saying it would strengthen relations among the neighbouring communities.

“We want to thank the president for remembering the North Rift and allowing co-hosting because now it will promote cohesion and peace,” he said.

 
Traffic snarl-up, traders cash in

The huge turnout also affected movement around Eldoret, with heavy congestion reported on roads leading to the stadium from as early as 2am.

Motorists seeking access to the venue faced long queues as security screening and traffic restrictions slowed movement. Officers directed vehicles along designated routes and towards authorised parking areas, while some roads connecting the stadium to the central business district were closed.

Uniformed and plain-clothes police officers were deployed at strategic junctions and access points across the city to regulate traffic and the movement of people approaching the venue.

Meanwhile, traders around the stadium sought to benefit from the influx of visitors, setting up makeshift food stalls and mobile eateries to serve those attending the celebrations, including people left waiting outside.

President William Ruto is expected to lead Kenyans in commemorating the country’s heroes and heroines, alongside other national leaders and dignitaries.

Follow our WhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.