WATCH: Fans At Nyayo Stadium Chant 'Ruto Must Go' Before Kenya v Gabon
Videos emerged on social media showing anti-Ruto chants as anticipation kept building ahead of Kenya’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Gabon.
Viral Tea Ke Writer 
Kenyans' opposition towards President William Ruto and his government has been consistent, and the famous 'Ruto must go' chants found their way to the Nyayo National Stadium.
On Sunday, March 23, videos emerged on social media showing anti-Ruto chants as anticipation kept building ahead of Kenya’s 2026 FIFA World Cup qualifier against Gabon.
By mid-afternoon, the 30,000-seat stadium was nearly packed, as supporters arrived early. However, the atmosphere became mixed, with large sections of the crowd expressing discontent with the government.
The chants came after a heated social media debate earlier on Sunday morning about whether political demonstrations were appropriate at a football match.
Fans chant 'Ruto Must Go' at Nyayo Stadium ahead of Kenya vs Gabon match#ViralVideos pic.twitter.com/gJHhLZJUzx — Viral Tea Ke (@ViralTeaKe) March 23, 2025
In other events, however, chaos erupted at Nyayo Stadium as eager fans forced their way in by breaking down a gate. Before the match, the Football Kenya Federation (FKF) had announced that all 22,900 tickets for Kenya’s first-ever home World Cup qualifier were sold out, leaving hundreds of football enthusiasts locked out.
However, just hours before the crucial match, hundreds of fans gathered outside Nyayo Stadium without tickets, hoping to gain entry into the newly renovated venue. Videos showed dozens of fans storming through an opening in the stadium after overpowering a security gate with their sheer numbers.
It remains unclear where security personnel were during the incident, though it is believed they were overwhelmed by the growing crowd outside. Additionally, the limited number of ticket-scanning zones worsened the situation, creating long queues and increasing frustration among ticket-holding supporters.
With 22,900 tickets sold, it was expected that at least 5,000 seats in the 30,000-capacity Nyayo Stadium would remain empty. However, the unauthorized entry of ticketless fans raises concerns about potential security breaches to accommodate the overwhelming crowd of Kenyan supporters.
According to the Confederation of African Football (CAF) guidelines, stadium management must assess the venue’s maximum safe capacity by considering factors such as entry flow, crowd management areas, exit routes, and emergency evacuation plans.
Key safety measures in determining the allowed number of spectators include the availability of functional seats, the rate of fan entry per hour, and the estimated time required to evacuate the stadium in an emergency.
Kenya and Gabon are part of CAF's Group F in the World Cup qualifiers, alongside Ivory Coast, Seychelles, Burundi, and Gambia. Kenya currently sits in fourth place, trailing Burundi, Gabon, and Ivory Coast.
The home team enters the match with a morale boost after staging a dramatic comeback in a 3-3 draw against Gambia last week, thanks to impressive performances from debutants Mohammed Bajaber of Kenya Police FC and William Lenkupae, who plays for Central Coast Mariners in the Australian League.
Meanwhile, Gabon heads into the game with confidence following a dominant 3-0 victory over Seychelles on March 20.
