Kenya is hosting its first CAF Safety and Security training for football stewards, as part of the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) ongoing Safe Stadium Initiative. The three-day workshop, running from Tuesday, October 8 to Thursday, October 10, 2024, is being held at the Novotel Hotel in Nairobi. This event marks a significant milestone in Kenyan football, as it aims to elevate stadium security to international standards.
With increasing local and global interest in Kenyan football, the demand for well-trained stewards to ensure the safety of players, fans, and officials has become more urgent. The workshop comes at a time when Kenyan football is poised to grow, and safety measures are crucial for the sport’s sustainable development.
The training is led by two seasoned CAF instructors: Xolile Nokuthula Vilakati, who works in CAF’s Safety and Security department, and Dickson Okello, an experienced CAF Safety and Security instructor. These experts will guide 40 participants, including stewards from the FKF Premier League (FKF PL), officials from the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), private security personnel, and officers from Kenya’s Rapid Deployment Unit. This diverse group will undergo extensive training on best practices for stadium security during football matches and other high-profile events.
This initiative places Kenya among the 10 African nations that have benefited from CAF’s Safe Stadium Initiative, following nine others that have already implemented the program. CAF’s goal is to equip personnel responsible for securing football events with the skills necessary to manage crowd control, handle emergencies, and navigate the high-pressure environments typically encountered during major matches.
While this is Kenya’s first such training session, it is only the beginning. After the completion of this initial workshop, more training sessions will be rolled out across the country. These sessions will ensure that stewards from all major football leagues—including the FKF Premier League (FKF PL), National Super League (NSL), Women’s Premier League (WPL), Women’s National Super League (WNSL), Division One, and Women’s Division One (WDIV)—receive similar training. This approach ensures uniformity in security measures across all levels of Kenyan football.
The workshop’s curriculum covers key topics essential for maintaining safety at football events. Participants will learn about:
- Challenges of security in Africa
- CAF safety and security regulations
- Responsibilities of the Chief Safety and Security Officer (CSSO)
- Collaboration with security stakeholders
- Stewarding, accreditation, and access control
By the end of the training, participants are expected to have a thorough understanding of stadium security protocols, enabling them to provide enhanced protection at football events across Kenya.
This inaugural session is a vital step toward professionalizing match-day security in the country. As Kenya’s football industry continues to grow, creating a safe environment for fans, players, and officials has become a top priority. The Safe Stadium Initiative is set to transform the security landscape of Kenyan football, ensuring that trained personnel can handle the evolving demands of stadium safety.
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