Why Blankets & Wine Risks Hefty Fines Over September 28 Concert That Angered Fans

A lawyer announced that he had formally filed a complaint with the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) over the Blankets & Wine Festival held on September 28, 2025, at Kasarani’s Laureate Grounds in Nairobi, accusing the organisers of unfair trade practices and violating consumer welfare standards.

In his complaint, Francis Wanjiku argued that attendees who paid for what was marketed as a premium experience were subjected instead to a poorly organised and chaotic event.

Wanjiku is now calling on CAK to investigate the organisers for unfair trade practices and to ensure that attendees are compensated for what he described as a “shoddy and misrepresented” event experience.

“Today, I have filed a formal complaint regarding the Blankets and Wine event held on 28th September 2025 at Kasarani – Laureate Grounds.

Nigerian global sensation Tems delivered an electric performance that lit up the Blankets & Wine stage on September 28, 2025. /VIRAL TEA KE

"I have requested the Competition Authority of Kenya to conduct an investigation under Section 9 of the Competition Act (Cap. 504) due to unfair trade practices and consumer welfare concerns,” Wanjiku announced on his X account on Tuesday, October 7.

What Could Happen?

If the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) proceeds with an investigation and finds merit in the complaint, several outcomes are possible under the Competition Act (Cap. 504).

Should CAK determine that the event organisers engaged in misleading marketing, false advertising, or failed to deliver services as promised, the festival could be found to violate the consumer protection and fair trade provisions of the law. This would establish that attendees were subjected to unfair trade practices or deceptive conduct.

In such a case, the organisers could face administrative penalties, including fines of up to 10 percent of their annual turnover, depending on the seriousness of the misconduct and the financial scale of the event.

CAK could also order corrective action, compelling the organisers to refund or compensate affected consumers for the poor experience. This may include partial reimbursements or other forms of restitution for ticket holders.

The Authority may further issue cease-and-desist orders to stop misleading advertising or similar practices in future events. Such directives are often accompanied by requirements to improve transparency in ticket pricing, advertising, and event management.

CAK’s findings are typically made public, which could result in significant reputational damage for the organisers. The fallout could affect their ability to attract sponsorships, partnerships, or secure permits for future festivals.

However, if the Authority finds insufficient evidence of wrongdoing, the organisers could be cleared of all allegations, and the case would be closed with no penalties.

Overall, the possible outcomes range from public reprimands, financial penalties, and compensation orders to complete exoneration, depending on what CAK uncovers during its investigation.

What Actually Happened

The festival, headlined by Nigerian Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter Tems (Temilade Openiyi), was riddled with technical failures, including distorted sound, delayed performances, and acts performing out of order — leaving many revellers frustrated. Most notable was a last-minute change to the performances' schedule, which saw Ugandan musician Joshua Baraka surrender his slot to Tems, making him the last main act of the event.

Away from the stage, the situation worsened as the bars opened late, creating long queues and near-stampede incidents within the venue. 

However, network issues, as we found out while covering the event, were arguably the most frustrating, with a majority of revellers reporting being unable to make and receive phone calls, complete their payments via mobile money transactions, and log onto the internet to share minute-by-minute updates of the highly anticipated event.

Also Read: EXPLAINED: Can Too Many People At A Concert Cause A Network To Fail?

The event drew close to 20,000 fans and, other than Tems, featured acts such as Baraka, Willis Chimano, We Are Nubia, Toxic Lyrikali, and Zaituni. It made a comeback after its June edition was cancelled over security concerns ahead of nationwide demonstrations on Wednesday, June 25, 2025.

The organisers are yet to release an official statement on the matter at the time of publishing this story.

Joshua Baraka and Bien in a surprise collaboration on a special rendition of “Nana.” during their performance on September 28, 2025. /BLANKETS & WINE