Kenya, April 13 -- Gor Mahia's much-anticipated club elections turned chaotic today at Nyayo National Stadium, as police used tear gas to disperse fighting groups of supporters.
The violence broke out during the voting to choose new club leaders, including the chairman, vice chairman, secretary general, and treasurer.
Around midday, tensions rose when fans of different candidates clashed at the basketball arena, where voting was taking place.
Videos shared online showed fans running away from the tear gas as police tried to restore calm. Many people were injured, but the exact number is still unknown.
These elections are very important for Kenya's most successful football club. Long-time chairman Ambrose Rachier was running for re-election against challengers, including radio host Gidi Gidi, who wanted to be the secretary general.
The electoral board had set strict rules, such as needing three years of active membership and clearance certificates, but arguments over who was allowed to vote led to the unrest.
Football Kenya Federation officials condemned the violence and called for calm so that the elections could continue.
"We're working with the authorities to secure the venue and finish the elections fairly," said Gichu Wahome, the chair of the electoral board.
Fans who witnessed the chaos expressed sadness, with one saying, "Gor Mahia deserves better than this chaos."
This disruption is reminiscent of past incidents at Nyayo, including the use of tear gas during the Mashemeji Derby on March 30, raising concerns about crowd management at important football events.
Voting stopped temporarily, and officials have not confirmed if the results will be announced today.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Bana Kenya.