Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei has blamed Sports Cabinet Secretary Ababu Namwamba for the death of four women which occurred at the Kericho Green Stadium caused by a stampede during Mashujaa Day celebrations.
In a statement, Cherargei accused Ababu of overseeing shoddy work on the stadium, which he termed as an embarrassment to the government.
"My heart goes out to the families and friends who lost their loved ones after the stampede at the Kericho (Green) Stadium yesterday," Cherargei stated.
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"The supervising ministry of Sports CS Ababu must held responsible for this unfortunate incident. This is a clear pointer to substandard work done by the ministry at the stadium. The incident embarrassed all of us. My apologies to the entire country."
Deaths during Mashujaa Day
On Friday, four women died during a stampede at the Kericho Green Stadium.
According to the police, 13 people were injured during the stampede, including three police officers, a 67-year-old community health worker and a community health volunteer.
"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," the police said.
Police said the stampede happened after a lady who was selling tea outside the stadium accidentally spilt hot tea in the fire near gate "C", causing panic as members of the public mistook it to be teargas thrown at them.
Ababu hails Kericho Green Stadium
On Friday, Ababu praised the newly refurbished 10,000-sitter Kericho Green Stadium as a milestone in the sports sector.
“This facility being delivered here today is a celebration of a team effort. So today, we are delighted to gather here to receive the refurbished Kericho Green Stadium. We have actually turned a dilapidated, forgotten, ignored ground into a stadium that fits the name Stadium,” Ababu said.
“Now we have Kericho Green Stadium as a 10,000 sitter capacity stadium. It has a 2,000-sitter VIP zone, and two changing rooms and we will put those changing rooms to use during the Mashujaa Day Cup,” he added.
The Stadium played host to the Mashujaa Day Cup game on Friday when Zoo Kericho caged AFC Leopards after winning 2-1.
