Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen has urged Kenyans to ensure that only those who have purchased tickets attend the quarter-final CHAN match between Kenya and Zambia on Sunday, August 17, 2025.

His remarks come in response to a security breach during the previous match against Morocco, where some fans gained entry to the stadium without valid tickets, violating security protocols.

Addressing the media on Tuesday, August 12, 2025, Murkomen emphasised the crucial role of fans in supporting the national team, noting that they are often referred to as the “12th player”.

He stressed that fans should avoid attending the match without tickets, as this would reflect poorly on the country and create significant security challenges. He warned that exceeding the stadium’s capacity could lead to a major disaster and compromise safety for everyone present.

“The fans are extremely important for us; in fact, the fans are always called the 12th player, and we do not want to miss the opportunity to have the fans or the opportunity to play before our fans. From a security perspective, I would like to beg all Kenyans to avoid going to the stadium without tickets. It’s going to reflect badly on us; it’s going to give us security problems,” Murkomen stated.

Advice to fans

Murkomen appealed to Kenyans to respect the regulations set by the Confederation of African Football (CAF), which has imposed a penalty restricting the stadium to 60 per cent capacity for Kenyan fans.

He urged fans to purchase tickets through the proper channels and comply with the set guidelines to help ensure that Harambee Stars can continue their journey to the finals without facing further sanctions.

“I want to request Kenyans for the sake of our team, and if we all want the Harambee Stars to reach the finals, let’s respect the regulations that CAF has put in place and even the penalty that they have given us to play 60 per cent of the stadium capacity. Let’s just abide; ‘Let’s buy the tickets the way required,” he stated.

CAF restrictions

This comes moments after the Confederation of African Football (CAF) imposed stringent measures for Kenya’s upcoming home matches at Kasarani Stadium, ahead of the Harambee Stars’ last Group A outing against Zambia on Sunday, August 17, 2025, at the mentioned facility.

The continent’s football governing body has warned that failure of the Football Kenya Federation and the government to fully comply could result in more severe sanctions, including relocating future fixtures to alternative venues.

The directives follow repeated and serious security lapses during previous home games, with CAF insisting on immediate action to safeguard spectators, staff, and the integrity of the tournament.

Under the new measures, stadium capacity will be capped at 60 per cent, allowing a maximum of 27,000 tickets per match. Only electronic ticket holders will be granted entry, with thermal tickets explicitly prohibited to curb gate overruns and ticketing irregularities.