A tragic incident marred a concert at Nyayo National Stadium on Saturday, Dec. 20, 2025, when 20-year-old Kenyan fan Karen Lajore died following a crush near the stadium gates during a performance by Nigerian Afrobeats star Asake.
Authorities confirmed the fatality and reported that several other fans sustained injuries amid chaotic entry conditions worsened by heavy rain.
Ms. Lajore was reportedly standing in a long queue when the crush occurred. Her family and friends have since called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to her death, while Kenyans on social media expressed widespread grief and sympathy.
In a statement shared on Instagram, Asake, whose real name is Ahmed Ololade, said he was “devastated by the tragic incident.”
He extended condolences to Ms. Lajore’s family and friends, pledging to support efforts to understand what went wrong. “Those responsible should be held accountable,” he added.
Kenyan police spokesman Michael Muchiri described the crush as “very unfortunate” and noted that crowd management at the venue appeared inadequate. He confirmed that authorities are conducting an investigation, which he said would typically be concluded within a few weeks.
The concert organisers, Tukutane Entertainment, stated they were cooperating with authorities to determine the causes of the tragedy. A journalist present at the event, Immanuel Ndungu of Citizen TV, highlighted problems with stadium entry and crowd control in an Instagram post.
This incident recalls a similar tragedy at Asake’s 2022 Brixton Academy show in London, where two people died and others were seriously injured. Asake, who rose to prominence in 2022 with his debut album Mr. Money With the Vibe, has received multiple accolades, including two Grammy nominations and a BBC Radio 1 Sound of 2023 nomination, establishing him as one of Nigeria’s leading Afrobeat stars.
Ms. Lajore’s mother took to social media demanding accountability, writing:
“What happened to my child? Why her? I want justice for my child.”
The loss has sparked a broader conversation in Kenya about concert safety and the responsibilities of event organizers.
