The incident happened on Saturday night, December 20, 2025, at Nyayo National Stadium. A stampede broke out as fans tried to enter the venue, leading to chaos and panic. During the crush, Karen Lojore, a student at Daystar University, collapsed. She was rushed to hospital but was later pronounced dead.
Karen was studying Applied Computer Science at Daystar University’s School of Science, Engineering, and Health. News of her death sparked anger and sadness across Kenya, with many people demanding justice and accountability.
On Monday night, Asake, whose real name is Ahmed Ololade, released a statement expressing deep sorrow over the incident. He said his heart goes out to Karen’s family, friends, and loved ones.
“Music has always been about love and joy for me. It breaks my heart that someone lost their life at my show,” Asake said. He added that he would support efforts to understand what happened and called for those responsible to be held accountable.
The concert organiser, Tukutane Entertainment, also addressed the matter. In a statement, the company said it is fully cooperating with emergency services and authorities as investigations continue. The organisers said they take the safety of concertgoers seriously and will not speculate while investigations are ongoing.
Witnesses at the scene described overcrowding at the stadium entrance, with heavy congestion at the gates and inside a tunnel, which caused panic and crushing as fans pushed to get in.
The event had already faced controversy earlier in the evening after Kenyan music group Kodong Klan pulled out of the concert. The group cited mistreatment and poor coordination during sound checks. However, Tukutane Entertainment denied responsibility, saying the group withdrew on its own decision and that all agreements had been honoured.
Karen Lojore’s death has renewed public debate about crowd control, event planning, and safety standards at large entertainment events in Kenya. Authorities are continuing investigations to establish what went wrong and to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
