The family of 20-year-old Daystar University student Karen Lojore is mourning her death following a tragic stampede that occurred during Afrobeat star Asake’s concert last Saturday.

Karen, a second-year student at Daystar University’s Athi River campus, had attended the concert with friends, excited for what was meant to be a night of music and celebration. Unaware of the danger ahead, the outing would end in heartbreak.

According to her friend, Cindi Mutisya, the group had arrived at the venue together before briefly separating.

“We were very excited. We parked and took two boda bodas. We used different gates, and Karen called and said we meet inside,” she recalled.

Another friend, Flavian Mwavali, described the moments that followed as chaotic and devastating.

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“What happened is tragic. We waited at the entrance, and then everything went wrong,” he said.

Karen succumbed to injuries sustained during the stampede, an incident that has since raised serious questions about crowd control and event safety.

Her family says the loss has been unbearable, especially as they mark Christmas Eve without her.

“It is a very big loss for us. She was an amazing person,” her father, Paul Britton Lojore, said.

On Wednesday, friends, relatives, and fellow students gathered at the Kenyatta National Hospital Memorial Chapel for a memorial service and body viewing. A sombre mood engulfed the chapel as mourners paid glowing tributes, remembering Karen as lively, intelligent, and warm-hearted.

“She was lively. Even when you were quiet, she would make you laugh,” one mourner said.

Another friend, Khan Mwaura, described her as compassionate and gentle.

“She loved her pets, especially her cats. She was one of the warmest and kindest people I knew,” Mwaura said.

The family has called for a thorough investigation into the incident, demanding accountability and justice.

They revealed that plans were already underway for Karen to relocate to the United Kingdom to join her family after completing her studies.

Event organisers, Tukutane Entertainment, quoted by the BBC, said they are working closely with authorities to “understand what happened.” However, the organisers have faced widespread public criticism, with many blaming poor planning and inadequate crowd control for the tragedy. Investigations into the incident are ongoing.

Meanwhile, students and staff at Daystar University also held a candle-lighting vigil and memorial service at the institution’s Nairobi campus, honouring Karen’s life and mourning the loss of one of their own.

What was meant to be a joyful night of music has instead left a family shattered and a nation grappling with yet another reminder of the deadly consequences of unsafe event management.