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Chaos unfolded at Raha Fest on New Year’s eve when a large crowd of music fans overwhelmed security, causing a stampede and forcing authorities to take drastic action.
As the situation escalated, police were forced to use tear gas to disperse the unruly crowd, which had gathered outside the venue at Uhuru Gardens.
Fans surged forward, pushing through security barriers, as excitement turned to chaos. The situation quickly escalated when a stampede broke out, causing panic among concertgoers.
Eyewitness videos show the moment fans overpowered security at the entrance to force their way in.
During her performance Shensea was whisked off stage after performing for less than ten minutes.
Expressing her frustration, she later tweeted, "Now, KENYA 😤😤😤😤😤 I'm a lil mad at y'all ngl!"
Tanzanian superstar Ali Kiba, who also headlined the event, persevered through the chaos.
Reflecting on the incident, he tweeted, "Experienced teargas 😂😂😂 for the first time in my life, but the show must go on! #RAHAFest – Hapa Amani Tu."
Media personality Victoria Rubadiri, who was covering the festivities, also weighed in on the tumultuous start to the year, tweeting, "Tear gas certainly wasn’t one of the scents of choice as I kicked off 2025. Sure hope this isn’t a sign of what’s to come 👀 What started as normal coverage of the New Year festivities quickly turned into some pretty chaotic scenes #RahaFest."
The drama at Raha Fest mirrors what happened at Uncle Waffles concert held on November 30, 2024, at the ASK Dome in Nairobi.
However, the event unraveled due to overcrowding, poor communication, and subpar sound quality.
Tensions escalated to the point where police intervened with tear gas, forcing many attendees to flee in panic.
Uncle Waffles expressed her disappointment with the organizers for compromising safety and vowed to return to Kenya under better conditions.