Being among a multitude of roaring fans in a packed stadium is an experience many football lovers would never trade for anything. No living-room couch or television broadcast can replicate the raw, thrill of a live Football Kenya Federation Premier League (FKF PL) match day.

From branch fan clubs congregating in hired buses to the rhythmic thunder of Isukuti drums and the iconic melodies of Gor Mahia’s Choir Branch, match days are traditionally a celebration of culture, passion, and community.

Disturbing trend

However, a dangerous shadow is fast swallowing this wholesome carnival atmosphere.

What was once harmless match-day refreshment has degenerated into unchecked open-air drug abuse and hazardous alcohol consumption on stadium terraces, turning family-friendly entertainment into a high-risk environment.

Glass bottles and charged emotions: A recipe for disaster

In a bid to capitalise on match-day economies of scale, traders and fans in Nairobi have created a booming informal market for cheap, subsidized liquor right around stadium gates and inside the stands. But safety is rapidly taking a back seat.

Speaking on the concerning trend, Gor Mahia Vice Chairperson Sally Bolo highlighted the grave danger posed by alcohol vendors selling liquor in glass bottles directly to fans inside the stands.

“Vendors are retailing liquor in glass bottles, completely oblivious to what those bottles can turn into when emotions run high,” Bolo warned, noting that intoxicated fans can easily weaponise glass bottles against rival supporters, security personnel, or match officials carrying out their duties.

Beyond the threat of glass missiles, hard drugs have found a comfortable haven in the terraces. Cannabis and other illicit substances are now smoked openly in the stands, traded using familiar local Sheng slang.

Implication for families and regular fans

For first-time spectators or families hoping to introduce their children to the beauty of Kenyan football, the experience is turning into a nightmare. Unsuspecting fans often find themselves engulfed in thick clouds of pungent smoke.

Attempts to express displeasure or request decency are frequently met with arrogance, hostility, and threats of violence from intoxicated groups who view their “highway to highness” as their primary form of match-day entertainment.

As a result, peace-loving supporters and families accompanied by minors are being forced to rethink attending live matches altogether—a trend that directly threatens stadium turnout and the financial health of local clubs.

In Kenya, the Football Kenya Federation’s rules and regulations place responsibility on home clubs to provide adequate safety and security arrangements for players, match officials, service providers and spectators.

The rules also require clubs to take measures to prevent dangerous objects, including bottles, from being thrown onto the field of play.