NAIROBI, Kenya — Nairobi County Chief Officer for Public Participation and Civic Engagement Geoffrey Mosiria has called for accountability and stricter regulation of major public events following the death of a young girl in a stampede at Nyayo Stadium during the Asake concert.
In a statement issued on Monday, Mosiria described the incident as heartbreaking and avoidable, saying a promising young life had been lost simply while trying to attend an entertainment event.
“It is deeply painful that a young girl lost her life in a stampede at Nyayo Stadium simply for trying to attend the Asaka concert. A life full of promise has been cut short in the most tragic and avoidable way,” Mosiria said, conveying condolences to the family, friends and all those affected.
He questioned why large entertainment events in Kenya continue to be marked by chaos, poor planning and weak crowd control, particularly when international artists are involved.
“This tragedy forces us, as a country, to pause and ask hard but necessary questions. Why is it that almost every time we host international musicians, chaos follows?” he asked.
Mosiria said event organisers must be held accountable when lives are lost, arguing that proper planning should be mandatory rather than an afterthought.
He emphasised the need for effective ticketing systems, clear entry and exit points, adequate crowd-control measures and the deployment of sufficient uniformed security officers.
“Invited artists cannot be completely detached from responsibility when lives are lost at events organised in their name,” he added.
The county official also urged government authorities to strengthen oversight and regulation of major public gatherings, saying approval for such events should only be granted to venues with adequate safety infrastructure and capacity.
“If international artists are to be hosted, this should be done in close coordination with the government and only in venues that can safely accommodate large crowds, such as Kasarani Stadium,” Mosiria said.
He further appealed to President William Ruto, through the Ministry of Youth and Sports, to consider supporting well-planned, government-backed entertainment events as a way of engaging young people safely.
Mosiria suggested that hosting global artists in properly secured and spacious venues could help reduce the desperation and unhealthy rush that often leads to overcrowding and deadly incidents.
“We must stop learning lessons through death. One life lost is one too many,” he said.
Describing the incident as personally painful in his role serving the public, Mosiria said the tragedy should serve as a turning point in how entertainment events are organised and regulated in the country.
“Entertainment can never be valued above human life. We owe our young people safety, dignity and responsible leadership,” he said, expressing hope that the girl’s death would not be in vain.
