Police Reveal What Triggered Kericho Green Stadium Stampede Killing 4 Women
The stampede occurred in the early hours of Friday morning, October 20 as attendees rushed to the stadium ahead of the 60th celebrations.
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Four unknown women have been confirmed dead following a stampede that rocked Kericho Green Stadium ahead of the Mashujaa Day celebrations graced by President William Ruto.
The stampede occurred in the early hours of Friday morning, October 20 as attendees rushed to the stadium ahead of the 60th celebrations.
According to a report filed at Kericho Police Station and seen by Viral Tea, the deadly incident occurred at 3 a.m. hours before the stadium gates were opened for the public ahead of the fete.
Kenyans outside the Kericho green stadium which is hosting the Mashujaa Day celebrations on October 20, 2023. /FACEBOOK
The police attributed an incident to a lady vendor who spilt tea on an open fire near one of the main entrances, causing panic.
"It was reported by Police Officers who were on duty at Kericho Green Stadium today 20/10/2023 at 0300 hours where the Mashujaa Celebration is to take place, that there was a stampede caused by a lady who was selling tea outside the stadium who accidentally spilt hot tea in the fire near gate "C" along the public road," read the report in part.
The panic ensued after members of the public misinterpreted the spillage to be teargas lobbed to disperse them.
"Several people who wanted to gain entry to the stadium were injured and rushed to Kericho County Referral Hospital on board station motor vehicle and county government ambulances. At the said hospital, four unknown females have been confirmed dead," added the report.
The dead were moved to the hospital's morgue awaiting identification and postmortem.
Among those injured were two police officers, one of them from the Presidential Escort Unit (PEU) who sustained a fracture on the right leg as well as a National Youth Service (NYS) officer who sustained injuries on the head. Also injured was a community health volunteer.
The stadium contractor handed the facility to the Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba on Thursday, October 19 ahead of the celebrations.
There had been concerns over safety measures at the stadium, which has a capacity of 10,000 people.
At Gate C, a gaping hole concealed by wooden planks posed a serious hazard, adding to the chaotic circumstances.
To make matters worse, the stadium's surroundings were mired in ankle-deep mud, owing to heavy rainfall.
Security officers had a tough time controlling the huge crowd outside the stadium as well as long queues as Kenyans turned out in large numbers for the 60th Mashujaa Day celebrations.
The stadium was upgraded to a 10,000-seater capacity stadium with two VIP lounges, two changing rooms, terraces and paved parking.
It was upgraded for the event at a cost of Ksh400 million, according to the Ministry of Sports.
