The family of 20 year old Daystar University student Karen Lojore is struggling to come to terms with her death following a tragic stampede at an Asake concert held last Saturday. What began as a night of excitement and music ended in devastating loss, leaving loved ones, friends, and the wider public shaken by the events that unfolded.
Karen was a second year student at Daystar University’s Athi River campus. She had attended the concert with friends, looking forward to enjoying live music and spending time together. According to those who were with her, nothing about the evening suggested the danger that lay ahead. The excitement of the night quickly turned into confusion and panic as the crowd surged.
One of her friends, Cindi Mutisya, recalled the moments before they lost contact with Karen. “We were very excited. We parked and took two boda bodas. We used different gates, and Karen called and said we meet inside,” she said. The brief separation, which seemed harmless at the time, would later become a painful detail in the tragic sequence of events.
Another friend, Flavian Mwavali, described the scene that followed as overwhelming and distressing. “What happened is tragic. We waited at the entrance, and then everything went wrong,” he said. Amid the chaos, Karen sustained injuries during the stampede and later succumbed to them, a loss that has since sparked serious concerns about crowd safety and event management.
What do witnesses say about the moments leading to the tragedy?
Accounts from those present paint a picture of confusion, congestion, and fear. Friends who had planned to reunite inside the venue instead found themselves caught in a situation they could not control. The stampede has raised questions about how entry points were managed and whether adequate measures were in place to handle large crowds.
Karen’s death has left her family devastated, especially as they face the festive season without her. Her father, Paul Britton Lojore, spoke about the depth of their loss. “It is a very big loss for us. She was an amazing person,” he said. For a family that had been looking forward to celebrating Christmas together, the pain has been immeasurable.
On Wednesday, mourners gathered at the Kenyatta National Hospital Memorial Chapel for a memorial service and body viewing. The atmosphere was heavy with grief as friends, relatives, and fellow students paid tribute to a young life cut short. Many remembered Karen as energetic, intelligent, and full of warmth.
“She was lively. Even when you were quiet, she would make you laugh,” one mourner said. Another close friend, Khan Mwaura, spoke about her gentle nature and love for animals. “She loved her pets, especially her cats. She was one of the warmest and kindest people I knew,” Mwaura said.
Why are calls for accountability growing after the incident?
Beyond mourning, Karen’s family has called for a thorough investigation into the tragedy, demanding accountability and justice. They revealed that plans were already underway for her to relocate to the United Kingdom to join her family after completing her studies, making the loss even more painful.
Event organisers, Tukutane Entertainment, quoted by the BBC, said they are working closely with authorities to “understand what happened.” Despite this statement, public criticism has been widespread, with many pointing fingers at poor planning and inadequate crowd control as contributing factors. Investigations into the incident remain ongoing.
In solidarity, students and staff at Daystar University held a candle lighting vigil and memorial service at the institution’s Nairobi campus. The gathering honoured Karen’s life and reflected the collective grief felt within the university community.
What was meant to be a joyful night of music has instead left a family broken and a country once again confronting the deadly consequences of unsafe event management. Karen Lojore’s story now stands as a painful reminder of the importance of prioritising safety at public events, so that no other family has to endure such a loss.
By Lucky Anyanje