Tragic Mashujaa Day in Machakos after woman is trampled to death

Mashujaa Day celebrations in Machakos turned tragic for a family after a woman died following a stampede outside Kenyatta Stadium on Thursday.

The woman sustained injuries and was rushed to Machakos Level Five hospital by a County ambulance but was later pronounced dead.

According to her husband Mr Stephen Mutua, his wife — a mother of six — left their home in Ngaamba, Mwala to attend the Mashujaa Day celebrations in Machakos town.

Mr Mutua said he tried calling his wife at around 10am only for her phone to be picked by another person who informed him that his wife was unwell and had been taken to hospital.

"I later spoke to my wife who asked me to go see her in hospital,” said Mr Mutua.

Mr Mutua rushed to the hospital where he found out that she had succumbed to injuries sustained during the stampede.

County Director of Emergency and Rescue services Mr David Mwongela could not at first confirm the incident but said a woman who had been in labour at the gate of the Stadium had been taken to hospital.

"No casualties so far. Only a woman who was in labour has been rushed to hospital," Mr Mwongela told the Daily Nation.

He later said he was to get another report but failed to give details.

National Youth Service (NYS) stewards, according to witnesses, resorted used batons to hit the surging crowd after they were overwhelmed by the swelling number per minute in a bid to restore and maintain order.