A deadly stampede has claimed the life of a 20-year-old woman during a concert by Nigerian singer Asake in Nairobi, Kenya, reigniting concerns over crowd control at large music events.
The victim, identified as Karen Lojore, reportedly died after an overcrowding-induced stampede at the Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday, December 20.
Eyewitness accounts indicate that the situation escalated as concertgoers struggled for space, leading to panic within the crowd. On-site paramedics were said to have carried out emergency resuscitation efforts before Lojore was rushed to Nairobi West Hospital, where she was later pronounced dead.
The concert organiser, Tukutane Entertainment, confirmed the incident in a statement posted on its official Instagram page, describing the development as tragic.
“We are deeply saddened to confirm that a tragic incident occurred during our December 20th concert, resulting in the loss of life,” the organisers said.
“Our hearts are with the family, friends and loved ones affected by this devastating loss. We are cooperating fully with emergency services and relevant authorities to understand what happened.”
The incident has once again drawn attention to safety concerns surrounding Asake’s concerts. In December 2022, a similar stampede at his show at the Brixton O2 Academy in London led to the death of Rebecca Ikumelo, a 33-year-old Nigerian mother of two.
Investigations into the Nairobi incident are expected to focus on crowd management and adherence to safety regulations.