Investigation Launched After Tragic Mashujaa Day Stampede Claims 4 Lives in Kericho
On Friday, four people were slain in a stampede at the Kericho Green Stadium during Mashujaa Day celebrations, prompting the Ministry of the Interior to launch an investigation into the incident.
In a statement to newsrooms, the ministry reported that the 3 a.m. incident resulted in the deaths of four women and the injuries of approximately ten others, including six police officers and four civilians.
The ministry managed by Prof. Kithure Kindiki urged citizens to remain calm and reaffirmed that the government will work to prevent similar incidents shortly.
“The ministry is deeply saddened by the stampede incident that happened earlier today when patriotic Kenyans tried to access the Kericho Green Stadium, to commemorate the 60th Mashujaa Day Celebrations,” read the statement.
“We appeal to the public for their cooperation and calm as we work to determine the circumstances that led to this tragic event and ensure the necessary measures are taken to prevent such incidents in the future.”
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The statement went on to say that the injured are currently recovering at the Kericho County Referral Hospital and are no longer in peril.
“At the hospital, doctors confirmed four people dead, all female, and 10 injured. Among those injured were 4 civilians and 6 police officers,” added the statement.
“All the injured are in stable condition and receiving treatment at Kericho County Referral Hospital. The deceased bodies have been preserved in the facility’s morgue pending identification and postmortem examinations.”
The police stated in a statement released on Friday that the stampede occurred hours before the stadium gates were opened, when a tea vendor purportedly spilled tea on an open fire, causing panic among spectators who mistook the smoke for teargas.
“…stampede caused by a lady who was selling tea outside the stadium who accidentally spilled hot tea in the fire near gate ‘C along the public road, as a result, members of public panicked and mistook it to be a teargas thrown at them,” said the police.
Investigation Launched After Tragic Mashujaa Day Stampede Claims 4 Lives in Kericho
