Assessment of crowd management strategies used for football events in government-owned sports Stadia in Nairobi County, Kenya
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Date
2016-02
Authors
Mandu, Agnes Wanjiku
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Kenyatta University
Abstract
Spectator violence in stadiums is part of a larger set of problems related to
misbehaviour in football and it has resulted into deaths and injuries during football
events, especially where rival football clubs are playing. This is especially exacerbated
where fans seating arrangement is not properly demarcated. The purpose of this study
was therefore to assess crowd management strategies applied by the management of
government-owned sports stadia in Nairobi County, Kenya.
The management strategies the study sought to assess were mainly on security
arrangements in terms of the pre-event, event and post-event preparations and
arrangements.
The target population for the study comprised of 64 staff working at Moi International
Sports Centre (MISC) and Nyayo National Stadium (NNS), 24 Football Kenya
Federation (FKF) officials at National and Nairobi County levels, 304 police officers
stationed at Kasarani Police division, Ngomongo Police Post, Langata Police division
and Nyayo National Stadium Police Post. Sample size for football fans was calculated
at 384 using Fishers’ formula since the total population for both MISC (60,000) and
NNS (30,000) was estimated at 90,000.
Stratified random sampling technique was used to select the respondents, to ensure a
fair representation of all the target groups. Self-administered questionnaire was used to
collect data. The data collected was summarized into descriptive statistics of
frequencies and percentages. Data presentation was carried out using graphs, barcharts,
tables and pie-charts. The null hypotheses were tested using chi-square at p <
0.05 level of association/agreement using SPSS version 20.
Findings revealed there was a level of agreement between the security/safety service
personnel and football fans on the adequacy of stadia safety features where a higher
proportion of both were of the opinion that the safety features were partially adequate.
On pre-event strategies the findings revealed that the strategies used were viewed by a
high proportion of the respondents as partially effective, with a departure on facility
maintenance which was viewed as effective and advertising of penalties for
misbehaviour while in the stadium which was indicated as ineffective. The stadia
security/safety service personnel and the football fans generally agreed that the
strategies used to manage crowds during football matches in the two sports stadia were
partially effective. For the post-event strategies security/safety personnel and football
fans were of the opinion that the strategies used to control crowds after a football
match were generally partially effective. Based on the findings, it is recommended that
the management of the two sports stadia should improve on all the strategies used to
manage crowds during football matches. Further studies on crowd management
strategies for football events need to be carried out in other government- owned and
non-government owned sports stadia in Kenya.
Description
A research thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the award of degree of masters ofscience (leisure and recreation management) school of applied human sciences, Kenyatta University. February 2016