The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) Disciplinary Committee has fined Kenyan Premier League giants Gor Mahia FC Ksh 300,000 over crowd trouble and security lapses that marred their 2025/26 FKF Premier League season opener against Bidco United at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, on September 21, 2025.
In its ruling, the committee found Gor Mahia guilty of failing to maintain adequate order and security, after sections of the club’s supporters were reported to have forced their way into the stadium without tickets and later clashed with police officers during the heated match.
The fixture ended in a shock 1-0 defeat for Gor Mahia — their only loss so far this season — after Bidco United’s Newton Ochieng converted an 88th-minute penalty.
In a statement released on Thursday, the FKF Disciplinary Committee ruled that the club had violated both the FKF Regulations and the CAF Disciplinary Code, citing negligence in matchday organization and fan management.
“The Committee noted that outsourcing operational functions does not absolve a club from its responsibility under CAF and FIFA disciplinary frameworks, which require clubs to always exercise proper oversight and preventive measures,” the ruling read in part.
Although Gor Mahia had contracted third-party vendors to handle ticketing and stadium access control, the committee stressed that the club retains a “non-delegable duty of care” to ensure matchday safety, crowd control, and overall event supervision.
Citing the principles of Strict Liability and Vicarious Liability, the committee emphasized that football clubs are automatically responsible for incidents occurring in or around the stadium, regardless of whether they directly caused them.
As a result, the 21-time league champions were found culpable and issued a formal warning to enhance diligence and security planning during future fixtures. The club has been ordered to settle the Ksh 300,000 fine within 14 days.
The FKF also cautioned that repeat offenses would attract stiffer sanctions, including potential bans from hosting matches at major venues such as Kasarani and Nyayo Stadium.
Despite the disciplinary setback, Gor Mahia continues to perform strongly this season, currently sitting second in the FKF Premier League table with 12 points from five matches — four wins and one loss.
However, the latest ruling has intensified calls from football authorities and security experts for stricter fan management and better coordination between clubs, stewards, and law enforcement agencies during high-profile fixtures.
The FKF confirmed that a detailed legal ruling on the case will be published on November 4, 2025, after which Gor Mahia will have the right to appeal.
