Organizers Acknowledge Shortcomings, Promise Reforms

NAIROBI – The organizers of the Blankets & Wine festival, GoodTimes Africa, have publicly acknowledged significant operational failures during their September 28, 2025, edition and have committed to a series of major reforms ahead of their next event on Sunday, December 21, 2025. The move comes after weeks of intense public criticism from attendees who cited poor sound quality, chaotic bar services, significant performance delays, and inadequate crowd management at the Laureate Gardens, Kasarani venue.

In a detailed statement issued in early October, the festival's management admitted the event “fell short” of expectations. This acknowledgment followed a formal complaint lodged with the Competition Authority of Kenya (CAK) by a lawyer, Francis Wanjiku, who accused the organizers of unfair trade practices and failing to deliver the premium experience advertised, particularly for VIP ticket holders who paid up to KSh 12,000.

A Litany of Complaints from a Flagship Event

The September festival, which featured Nigerian Afrobeats star Tems as a headliner, drew a crowd estimated between 8,000 and 20,000 people. However, the experience was widely described as 'shambolic' and 'spectacularly mismanaged' by attendees and media outlets. Key issues reported included:

• Logistical Failures: Long queues and near-stampede situations at bars, which opened late. Organizers attributed this to network congestion slowing mobile money payments, despite having an on-site network booster.
• Poor Scheduling: Headline acts performed out of the advertised order, and the program ran hours behind schedule, with long, unexplained gaps between performances.
• Substandard Experience: Attendees complained of distorted sound, poor lighting in key areas, and insufficient water and soft drinks.
• Security Conduct: Some security personnel were accused of highhandedness and unprofessional behavior.

The backlash was significant enough to prompt a formal complaint to the CAK, which confirmed it was reviewing the allegations of misleading consumers and poor service delivery.

A Blueprint for a Better Festival

In response to the criticism, and coinciding with its 17th anniversary on November 8, 2025, Blankets & Wine has announced concrete steps to overhaul its operations for the “Kenyan Summer” edition in December. The most significant change is the engagement of an independent architectural team to completely redesign the venue layout.

“Their mandate is simple: redesign flow, ease crowd movement, and ensure the festival layout reflects the scale and ambition of Kenyan Summer 2025,” said Brand Manager Michelle Njeri in a statement released around November 11th. This initiative is a direct response to the crowd management and logistical challenges of the previous event.

Furthermore, the organizers have committed to strengthening payment systems to reduce reliance on mobile networks, re-planning site infrastructure for better lighting and wayfinding, and ensuring sufficient stock from vendors. The refund process for those who experienced double payments or failed pre-orders for drinks is also reportedly ongoing, though delayed by a detailed validation process.

Rebuilding Trust in Kenya’s Live Music Scene

The controversy places a spotlight on the rapidly growing live events and experience economy in Kenya. As one of the region's most established festivals, the success or failure of Blankets & Wine's efforts to reform will be closely watched. The upcoming December 21st event is now a critical test of the organizers' ability to restore faith with their audience and prove that large-scale cultural events in Nairobi can meet high standards of safety, quality, and consumer satisfaction.

This follows a challenging year for the festival, which had to cancel its June 29, 2025, edition due to security concerns related to nationwide demonstrations. Head of Festivals, Justine Mbugua, framed the current challenges as part of a long learning process, stating, “Our 17-year history is a story of love and learning… it's necessary to develop the live music sector and circulate the economy.”