NAIROBI – As Kenya prepares its biggest-ever football hosting job this weekend, locals are wondering why they can’t buy tickets, with some accusing the government of filling the stadium with its supporters to avoid hostile chants.

Kenya has seen multiple deadly protests for more than a year over economic stagnation and police brutality, leaving dozens dead or missing.

It is hoping for a more positive vibe as it co-hosts the African Nations Championship (CHAN) with Tanzania and Uganda in August.

But local fans are puzzled over the difficulty of securing tickets for Kenya’s first match, against Democratic Republic of Congo, at Nairobi’s 48,000-capacity Kasarani Stadium on Aug 3.

Tickets have been sold out since July 28 evening – the result of a “more than eager” fanbase, according to Nicholas Musonye, head of the local organising committee.

Some die-hard supporters find that hard to believe.

“We haven’t found any fan who managed to buy a ticket,” said a Kenyan sports journalist, who requested anonymity for fear of reprisals by the government due to the “political” nature of the issue.

He accuses the government of President William Ruto of buying up tickets in a bid to avoid chants like “Ruto Must Go” that have become widely used since the protests began.

He added that the government was likely handing tickets to people less likely to be critical.

PropesaTV, an online media critical of Mr Ruto, told its 150,000 followers on X that the government had “bought over half of the Kenya v Congo CHAN opening-match tickets in a bid to stop or avoid the chants”.

It said tickets were being distributed to “government supporters” who will be transported to the stadium by bus from Kibera, a huge Nairobi slum that has seen fewer protests against the president than other areas.

A resident of the neighbourhood, also asking to remain anonymous, said he saw a “massive” group of people hired by local officials to “register” and collect personal data in exchange for tickets to the match.

Kariuki Ngunjiri, a national youth leader for the president’s party, said he had “not seen the accusations”.

“Tickets are available online, we are encouraging a lot of people to come in large numbers on Sunday and enjoy the game,” he said, though tickets could not be found then or since by AFP.

Kenyan Football Federation president Hussein Mohammed told AFP he was not responsible for ticketing, which falls under Confederation of African Football (CAF).

CAF did not respond to a request for comment.

Last week, Musonye of the organising committee told the Kenyan parliament that “the current prevailing situation in the country, concerning the Gen Z protests, has been identified as a potential risk that can affect the safe delivery of the tournament”. AFP

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