The Football Kenya Federation (FKF) has made new additions ahead of Harambee Stars’ last home match against Seychelles on Tuesday, September 9, perhaps acting on fears that turnout at Kasarani Stadium would be much lower.

For starters, FKF announced that acclaimed Kenyan musician Ian Oure, popularly known as Iyanii, will be performing in front of fans ahead of what on paper looks like a dead-rubber game.

Known for hits such as Pombe, the inclusion of Iyanii to the entertainment side of the match is seen as FKF’s move to get more fans to come to the stadium given that this game will fall on a busy working day, compared to Friday’s match against Gambia which saw thousands of fans fill Kasarani Stadium…almost to the rafters.

It is however worth noting that Iyanii had previously pledged to host a free concert in honour of the Harambee Stars following their 1-0 victory against Zambia in the final group game of the 2024 African Nations Championship (CHAN), saying this was his way of celebrating the national team’s unbeaten run, which included notable wins against Morocco, and DR Congo.

In another addition, FKF announced that Persons With Disabilities (PWDs) can access Kasarani Stadium to catch the game, and have been given three privileges. 

First, they will be allowed to enter the stadium with cars, and will sit at section 5 and 13 since the said sections are fitted with ramps. They will also be allowed to use VIP and VVIP lifts.

“Persons with Disabilities (PWDS) are welcome to attend tomorrow’s Kenya vs Seychelles match at Kasarani, as well as future games,” FKF stated, adding “Designated seating is available at Sections 5 & 13 (with ramps), car access for PWDS is through Gates 6 and 12, and VIP/VVIP lifts are also accessible.”

Parking at the stadium will only be available for VVIP ticket holders with valid vehicle access passes.

These new additions come after FKF had announced a 50 per cent reduction in ticket prices for Kenya’s last home game in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers, in an effort to draw bigger crowds to the stadium. 

On Sunday, September 7, FKF confirmed that Gold tickets started going for Ksh500, down from Ksh1,000, though the federation noted that the offer would remain available on the official ticketing portal until 4 p.m. on Monday, September 8.

However, as of Monday evening, at the time this story was published, spot checks by Viral Tea on Tikiti ticketing platform indicate that the flash sale was still active. (Access here)

Moreover, ticket sales were still ongoing, with no indication of either section being sold out, including the regular for Ksh300, with only sales closed for VVIP and Presidential. Still, for those interested, to avoid heavy traffic and long security queues, fans are encouraged to arrive at Kasarani at least three hours before kick-off.

The lower numbers are perhaps seen as a reaction to Harambee Stars’ 3-1 loss to Gambia on Friday, September 5 in a game that saw Kenya concede three goals in quick succession by the 40-minute mark. Fans had gone to this match with high hopes for the national team, especially considering their amazing CHAN 2024 run before their quarter-final elimination by Madagascar, but the crude loss to a nation ranked 123rd in FIFA, 14 places below Kenya, sent those hopes crashing down.

Even worse, Gabon’s 4-0 thrashing of Seychelles on September 3 mathematically ended Kenya’s hopes of reaching the 2026 World Cup to be hosted in the United States (US), Mexico and Canada.

After the setback, Harambee Stars are turning their attention to rebuilding and securing a strong result against Seychelles, a side they have consistently dominated over the years. Kenya holds a perfect record in this fixture, having faced Seychelles seven times and winning six, with one match ending in a draw. The island nation has never beaten the East African side.

Their first encounter was on November 18, 1992, during the CECAFA Cup, where Kenya edged out a 2-1 win. Since then, the rivalry has remained one-sided. The most recent clash came on November 20, 2023, in a World Cup qualifier, where Harambee Stars thrashed Seychelles 5-0 — the biggest victory margin in their head-to-head history.

Tuesday’s clash with Seychelles will be the last high-profile national team match Kenyan fans enjoy at the venue for the year 2025, with the team’s next World Cup qualifiers scheduled away to Burundi on October 6 and Ivory Coast a week later.