Chaos broke out at Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, on Sunday afternoon Gor Mahia fans clashed with police before the club’s first league match against Bidco United.
Another group of supporters tried to storm the stadium without tickets by pushing against the outer gates.
Social media captured images of fans dressed in green shirts climbing over fences in the daylight and determined to gain entry into the stadium.
The rush was driven away from the main gate, where police officers were prepared.
Teargas was employed to keep the crowd at bay, covering the stands in smoke. The supporters ran in all directions as the officers drove them off.
It’s not clear why some were barred from entry, though many reports state hundreds showed up without a ticket. The normal seats were going for Ksh300, while VIP tickets went for Ksh1,000.
Gor Mahia supporters are among the most ardent, but intensity all too often spills over into brutality.
Police also used teargas in June at the Ulinzi Sports Complex when there was violence following Gor Mahia’s Mozzart Bet Cup final loss to Nairobi United.
There had been a stampede at Gusii Stadium one month earlier when a game against Shabana FC was contested, injuring several people.
To most fans, Sunday’s game was of added importance. Having lost the title of the previous season to Police FC, they wished to get a good sense of how their team would start the new season.
The afternoon will instead be remembered for the smoke, confusion, and another reminder of how precarious crowd control is in Kenyan football.