Nigerian singer Asake breaks silence on fan's death at Nairobi concert

Karen Lojore, a student at Daystar University, is reported to have collapsed during a crush at the venue. She was rushed to the hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Karen was a student in the School of Science, Engineering, & Health, pursuing a BSc in Applied Computer Science.

The unfortunate event has drawn condemnation from Kenyans, who have demanded justice for Karen. 

Asake, real name Ahmed Ololadelisten, issued a statement on Monday night, condoling with the family of Karen.

"My heart goes out to the family, friends, and loved ones of Karen Lojore, and I pledge to support and do my best to understand what happened. Those responsible should be held accountable," Asake said. 

On the other hand, the event organiser, Tukutane Entertainment, addressed the public's concerns two days after the fateful incident. 

In a statement on Monday night, the organisers said they were "cooperating fully with emergency services and relevant authorities as they work to understand what happened." 

Tukutane added that the safety of their concert goers is a matter they "take very seriously". 

"Out of respect for the family and the ongoing investigation, we will not speculate on the circumstances surrounding the incident. We are committed to approaching this situation with care, transparency, and accountability, and will share additional information as appropriate and in coordination with the relevant authorities," the event organiser added. 

Witnesses at the event described chaotic scenes at the stadium entrance, with congestion and crowd pressure leading to panic. 

One witness said crushing occurred near the gate and inside a tunnel within the stadium as fans attempted to gain entry.

Before the stampede, the concert was also marred by controversy after Kenyan music group Kodong Klan withdrew from the event, citing alleged mistreatment and logistical challenges. 

In a statement, the group said it would not perform over "disrespect and disregard for agreed-upon standards, culminating in unacceptable treatment of our artist and team during soundcheck this evening: including interference from another performer's team and a lack of intervention from the event organisers."

Tukutane later disputed the claims by Kodong, saying the group’s withdrawal was independent and that all contractual obligations had been met.

"The decision by Kodong Klan to withdraw from the event was made independently by the group, citing concerns relating to their experience with some of the other artists during sound check," the company said.

"While we respect their position, we wish to clearly state that Tukutane Entertainment bears no responsibility or liability for this withdrawal."

The incident has renewed scrutiny on crowd control and safety measures at large entertainment events in the country, as investigations into the circumstances surrounding Lojore's death continue.