Behind the scenes: How NAC keeps rugby fans safe

As crowds poured into Nakuru Athletics Club this past weekend, eager to cheer their favourite rugby team to a win, one man stood out, his eyes peeled, ears alert surveying the lay of the land.

This was Kingsley Litali, CEO Crimeshield Security Limited, tasked with ensuring the security of the players and fans was guaranteed.

So what does it take to secure NAC during a big event like Prinsloo 7s?

According to Litali, security enforcement begins at the entrance where ticketing is done. He specifically reveals why for years he and his team create a buffer zone metres away from the NAC gate during such big games.

“We create a buffer zone for payment and proper security checks before anyone gets in to prevent chaos and confusion. There are times say a politician may come in followed by a huge crowd, Although they themselves may have a ticket, those behind him often don’t. This buffer helps us sieve them out in such an instance,” he says. 

But Litali admits he cannot do all this alone. To assist, he is supported by a professional ticket company.

“It is very fundamental to hire people who understand the concept of ticketing and will not accept being given sh. 50 or sh. 100 by those who don’t want to buy a ticket,” he cautions.

As with many sporting events across the country, alcoholic drinks often flow freely. For Litali and his team, this adds another layer of complications to his job.

 “Sometimes fans get a little too excited and overindulge in drinking, which can lead to rowdy behaviour. If they’re holding glass bottles or cups, those can quickly become dangerous weapons,” he notes.

To curb this, he encourages vendors to switch to paper cups.

Another issue is trespassing especially since NAC has a live fence where people can wiggle through.

“We carry out risk assessment and deploy mechanisms such as manning these porous points to keep trespassers out,” he says.

In future, Litali says matches like Prinsloo and others will see designated fan zones, like villages or party areas where fans can enjoy themselves away from the pitch to ensure the games run uninterrupted.