Child dies during Udhiyyah stampede in Kakamega
The tragic incident occurred at Sayangwe Mosque, where hundreds of residents had gathered to receive meat
A five-year-old child died and several others were injured during a stampede that broke out at an udhiyyah meat distribution exercise in Matungu, Kakamega County, on Eid ul-Adha.
The tragic incident occurred on Wednesday May 27, at Sayangwe Mosque, where hundreds of residents had gathered to receive meat distributed by a Turkish charitable organization as part of the annual Eid ul-Adha celebrations.
According to eyewitnesses, a large crowd, comprising mostly women, children and elderly people, had assembled at the mosque to receive meat distributed by the agency. As the distribution exercise got underway, confusion erupted as people scrambled to access the meat, resulting in a stampede that left scores injured and claimed the life of the young child.
Residents blamed the tragedy on poor crowd management and inadequate safety measures by the organizers. They said no proper systems had been put in place to regulate the large number of beneficiaries who turned up for the exercise.
“There were too many people and no clear arrangement for receiving the meat. The crowd became uncontrollable, leading to the unfortunate incident,” said one resident.
The injured were rushed to nearby health facilities for treatment, while local authorities launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Local Muslim leaders have now called on the government and humanitarian organizations to work together in future distribution exercises to prevent similar tragedies.
The Regional Coordinator of the National Muslim Leaders Forum (NAMLEF), Cassim Ochiba, expressed condolences to the bereaved family and urged stakeholders to prioritize safety during charitable events.
“While the noble exercise aims to fulfill the Sunnah of Prophet Ibrahim and support vulnerable members of the community, the challenges often witnessed during distribution must be addressed,” said Ochiba.
He emphasized the need for proper crowd-control mechanisms, security personnel, and structured distribution systems whenever large gatherings are expected.
“During large crowds, it is important that adequate measures are put in place to safeguard lives. The loss of a child in such circumstances is deeply unfortunate and should serve as a wake-up call for all stakeholders involved,” he added.