Gor Mahia have announced sweeping matchday reforms ahead of their final home fixture of the 2024/2025 FKF Premier League season against Kenya Police FC. These new measures, aimed at streamlining operations and improving crowd control, mark a significant shift in how the club manages its home games.
In a bold departure from the norm, Gor Mahia have resolved that there will be no stewards, branch representatives, or even the club’s own security personnel at the gates on matchday. This decision was unanimously agreed upon by the club’s management and is being implemented with immediate effect.
According to the club, the responsibility of matchday security will now fall entirely on a new team of alternative security personnel. These professionals will be in charge of ensuring safety and order during the high-profile match. The change is part of an effort to enhance efficiency and reduce incidences of confusion and mismanagement that have plagued some recent fixtures.
The new directive also emphasizes continued use of the club’s e-ticketing system, which was launched earlier in the season. This digital platform will remain the only channel through which fans can purchase match tickets, with no exemptions not even for club officials.
“We urge all to use the official link provided to purchase tickets well in advance to avoid last-minute confusion,” the club stated. “We strongly advise against paying anyone money to access the match venue. Everyone, including club officials, must purchase their tickets through the proper channels.”
This move follows logistical challenges experienced during the Mashemeji Derby held at the Raila Odinga Stadium in Homa Bay on June 2. The match drew a massive turnout but was marred by issues at the gates, which led to delays and confusion. In response, the club issued a public apology to its supporters, promising that lessons had been learned and improvements would be made.
“Our sincere apologies to fans for the mix-up and confusion at the gates. We commit to rectify this in our future matches to ease entry at match venues,” the club assured its supporters.
Despite the challenges, Gor Mahia praised their fans for their outstanding behavior during the Derby, which contributed to a peaceful and spirited matchday atmosphere.
“We want to thank all fans who showed up at the Raila Odinga Stadium for the Mashemeji Derby for their good behavior and maintaining peace, thus providing a perfect atmosphere for a historic Derby,” the club said.
In another significant development, the club is pushing to consolidate and formalize its nationwide fan base. All Gor Mahia branches have been directed to pay a KSh. 20,000 affiliation fee and to conduct internal elections within the next 60 days. Each branch must consist of at least 50 active, registered members.
As part of this restructuring, branches will be required to nominate two stewards who will participate in electing their branch officials. These nominated stewards must possess valid certificates of good conduct and will focus strictly on field control duties during matches.
As Gor Mahia prepare to face Kenya Police FC, the fixture will not only serve as a crucial step in their quest for the title but also as a test of their revamped operational framework. By implementing these bold changes, the club aims to set a new standard in matchday management and fan engagement, further solidifying their reputation as a trailblazer in Kenyan football.
