Drama unfolds off the pitch: Chaos, politics, & controversy at Harambee Stars vs Gabon clash

Harambee Stars 2-1 loss to Gabon was not the only thing that stood out on Sunday at the Nyayo National Stadium.

Harambee Stars were playing on home soil for the first time after a long while and it was expected that fans would flood the stadium to support their own but what happened on the sidelines was unexpected.

From Mumias East Member of Parliament Peter Salasya being chased out of the stadium to fans breaking into the stadium forcefully, a lot transpired before, during and after the match.

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In this article, Pulse Sports Kenya analyses what really happened on the sidelines of Harambee Stars vs Gabon match.

Fans could not wait for the 2026 World Cup qualifier match between Harambee Stars and Gabon at the Nyayo National Stadium.

The stadium was marred by chaotic scenes as a huge number of fans forced their way into the stadium without tickets, breaking one of the gates.

The incident occurred just moments before kickoff and from the videos circulating online, security personnel struggled to control the growing crowd with the situation quickly spiraling out of control.

Fans shoved their way past stadium stewards and found comfortable places to sit as they waited for the match. The chaos did not disrupt the match as it proceeded as scheduled, with the stadium packed beyond its expected capacity. Authorities are yet to issue an official statement regarding the incident.

Mumias East MP Peter Salasya turned into a victim after innocently going to watch the Harambe Stars vs Gabon match.

Upon his arrival, Salasya was attacked and chased away by a section of fans who were evidently avid supporters of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

Peter Salasya has always been known for his outspoken nature and he has recently been a huge critique of the current government.

He arrived at the stadium to watch the highly anticipated clash, but things quickly turned ugly. Peter Salasya was heckled before the situation escalated, with some individuals going ahead to physically attack him.

There are videos circulating online that show the MP being shoved and struggling to make his way through the aggressive crowd. He was eventually forced to leave the stadium under tight security.

The 2026 World Cup qualifier between Harambee Stars and Gabon at Nyayo National Stadium saw President William Ruto breach FIFA regulations by live-streaming the match on his social media platforms.

The Football Kenya Federation had issued a statement, noting that all the media rights would be handled by FIFA.

The statement said no unauthorised media (digital, TV and radio) would be allowed to broadcast the game without proof of being given a go ahead by FIFA and FKF.

However, President Ruto, showing his support for the national team, went live on his social media accounts for a while, allowing Kenyans to watch the game for free.

This move could land Kenya in trouble with FIFA, as it violates the global football body’s media and broadcasting agreements.

Beyond the broadcasting controversy, the match itself was overshadowed by political tensions and security concerns, with fans chanting “Ruto Must Go!”.