Konshens’ concert organizers issue 'apology over rowdy event'

By Davis Muli | 5yrs ago | 2 min read

Organizers behind Saturday's Hype Fest concert headlined by Jamaican dancehall star Konshens have issued a statement over its handling of the event.

According to HYPEXP Group Limited, over 10,000 revellers turned up at the Ngong Racecourse on September 7 including public figures such as footballer-turned-politician McDonald Mariga, Lang’ata MP Nixon Korir and Senator Aaron Cheruiyot.

Responding to criticism from netizens and a majority of people who attended, HYPEXP explained that “major hiccups" overshadowed the event and acknowledged that its security team was overwhelmed by the surging numbers.

The group, in a statement, noted that the stampede that occurred was occasioned by individuals who forced their way into the grounds.

“Due to the massive number of attendees, the security faced challenges at the entrance including; slow verification which caused impatience and backlog. Our sincere apologies from what resulted to this,

“This resulted in a stampede that saw everyone weather with/without a ticket rushing in, and a large number of rogue elements who would benefit from this commotion surprised us by stealing the verification equipment, pushing and theft,” the statement read in part.

They reiterated that “all victims identified on sight by the security and as well as the Hype team were attended to in the First Aid tent.”

HYPEXP further distanced itself from statement by an individual said to be linked to the group, stating that the expressed views on the matter were personal sentiments.

Other acts of the night included The Kansoul, Sailors of the Wamlambez hit, as well as the Sol Generation duo of Nviiri the Storyteller and Bensoul.

Ethic was the last local group to perform and set up the stage for the man of the hour, Konshens, who pulled up at the venue at around 2 am, Sunday.