By OUR CORRESPONDENT
Kenya is hosting the first-ever CAF Safe Stadium Initiative workshop for safety and security officers as part of the Confederation of African Football’s (CAF) ongoing Safe Stadium Initiative which kicked on Tuesday
The three-day workshop, is been held at the Novotel Hotel in Nairobi, marking a pivotal moment in the country’s football development as it seeks to ensure that security measures in stadiums meet international standards. With growing local and international interest in Kenyan football, the need for well-trained stewards to ensure the safety of players, fans, and officials has become more pressing.
The training is been led by two highly experienced CAF instructors: Xolile Nokuthula Vilakati, who works in CAF’s Safety and Security department, and Dickson Okello, a seasoned CAF Safety and Security instructor.
“Their extensive expertise will guide 40 participants made up of stewards from the FKF Premier League (FKF PL), officials from the Football Kenya Federation (FKF), private security personnel, and officers from the Rapid Deployment Unit. This diverse group will undergo intensive training on best practices for maintaining security during football matches and related events,” said a statement from the federation.
The introduction of the Safe Stadium Initiative in Kenya makes the country the 10th African nation to receive this training, following 9 other countries that have already benefited from the program.
According to CAF, the aim is to ensure that all personnel responsible for securing football events are equipped with the necessary skills to manage crowd control, emergency situations, and other high-pressure environments often encountered during major matches.
The stamen added: “This workshop, the first of its kind in Kenya, marks the beginning of a larger, more comprehensive effort to enhance security at football matches across the country. This initial course sets the foundation for a nationwide rollout of training sessions aimed at improving the skills and knowledge of stewards in all major football leagues.
Subsequent training sessions will be held in various regions to ensure that stewards from 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) are fully equipped to manage security at football events.
The initiative is spearheaded by the FKF National Safety and Security Officer (NSSO), Stephen Otieno, who will lead the nationwide rollout.
“This systematic approach ensures that stewards across the country receive the same high standard of training, enabling them to manage security effectively, regardless of the league or location. By focusing on uniformity in training, the FKF aims to create a consistent security framework that applies to all levels of competition,” added the statement.
The training’s curriculum is designed to cover a range of topics crucial for ensuring safety during football events. Participants will learn about challenges of security in Africa, CAF safety and security regulations, responsibilities of the CSSO and collaboration with safety and security stakeholders, stewarding and accreditation and access control.
The attendees are expected to have a comprehensive understanding of security protocols, enabling them to provide effective protection for football events in Kenya.
