Nearly seven months after the tragic death of Daystar University student Karen Lojore during a crowd crush at the December 2025 concert held at Nyayo National Stadium, Tukutane Entertainment and its CEO Khalhani Sichangi have once again addressed the incident through a series of new public statements as pressure for accountability continues to mount.
The latest statements come after months of public criticism directed at the event organizers following the fatal incident that occurred during the highly anticipated concert featuring Nigerian stars Asake and Gabzy.
This week, Tukutane Entertainment released two statements acknowledging public concerns, apologizing to affected parties, and outlining commitments aimed at improving event safety standards in Kenya’s entertainment industry.
The new statements were followed by an emotional video message released earlier by CEO Khalhani Sichangi, where he directly addressed Karen Lojore in what many considered the company’s first deeply personal acknowledgment of the tragedy.
The Emotional Video To Karen Lojore
Sichangi shared a heartfelt video message addressed directly to Karen Lojore, reflecting on the painful loss while drawing attention to the shared experiences of Kenya’s younger generation.
“Karen, you were 20, I am 24. We are from the same generation. We grew up in the same Kenya, shaped by the same music, the same excitement when global artists announced a Nairobi show,” part of the emotional message read.
The CEO explained that for the past seven years, he had worked to create entertainment spaces where young Kenyans could experience world-class events locally instead of watching global experiences happen elsewhere.
However, he admitted that in building that dream, Karen’s life was tragically lost.
“It is painful with no words that along the way in pursuit of my dream, your life was lost,” he said.
In the video, Sichangi acknowledged that Karen was far more than a headline surrounding a public controversy.
“Your life mattered, not as a headline, not as a statistic, but as a human being.”
He also called for stronger safeguards within Kenya’s entertainment space, adding that Karen’s death should force lasting changes around event safety and accountability.
Why Tukutane Stayed Silent For Months
In one of the newly released formal written statements shared by the company this week, Tukutane explained why it remained silent for months following the December tragedy.
According to the company, the silence was intentional and guided by respect for Karen Lojore’s grieving family, while also ensuring they did not interfere with ongoing investigations being conducted by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations.
“We understand that many people expected more from us and we fell short, for this we are sincerely sorry,” the statement read.
The company said the weeks and months following Karen’s death had been marked by profound sadness not only for her family and friends, but also for everyone affected by the incident.
Tukutane further stated that throughout the process, it had continued cooperating with authorities and providing information necessary to support investigations.
The company emphasized that it wanted truth, accountability, and justice to ultimately prevail.
Fresh Apology and Commitment to Change
In another statement issued directly to its wider community, sponsors, and fans, Tukutane admitted that while thousands attended the December concert and enjoyed memorable performances, others experienced incidents that affected their safety and overall event experience.
The company acknowledged growing concerns surrounding crowd management, venue access, ticket verification procedures, emergency preparedness, venue conditions, and communication failures following the concert.
“We recognize these concerns and accept that regardless of the many parties involved in delivering a large-scale event, attendees ultimately look to us as organizers for leadership, accountability, and assurance that their well-being comes first.”
Tukutane again issued a direct apology to the public.
The company stated that although the December 20 concert had been organized with the genuine intention of delivering a world-class entertainment experience for Kenyan fans, the tragedy exposed serious gaps that needed urgent review.
Push for Industry Reform
The company revealed that it has already started consultations with key stakeholders to review current event management protocols and identify interventions aimed at improving safety, operational coordination, and overall audience experience during future events.
More notably, Tukutane announced that it is pushing for the establishment of an entertainment regulatory body that would create a formal framework governing Kenya’s entertainment industry.
“We remain committed to building a world-class more professionally managed entertainment industry that aligns with globally accepted standards and best practices,” the company stated.
Public Pressure Still Remains
Karen Lojore’s death remains one of the most discussed tragedies within Kenya’s live entertainment scene in recent years.
While Tukutane Entertainment has now issued multiple public statements, questions surrounding accountability, event management failures, and long-term safety reforms continue dominating public conversation.
