Survivors of the Kiambu wedding tragedy have recounted moments before the incident occurred, even as families of the victims come to terms with the loss of their loved ones.
A Saturday intended to be filled with celebration took a heartbreaking turn when the wedding attendees fell into a well while picking up the bride at her parents' home.
Before the incident, the families sang wedding songs as the bride emerged from the house, dazzling in a white gown.
Little did they know that the ground they were standing on was a loose well, as the slab covering it collapsed at the weight of 17 of them. Six of the victims drowned immediately as others galloped for air and screamed for help while engulfed by sudden darkness.
"When we saw the bride coming out of the house, we were so excited, we were singing loudly and cheerfully. As we were singing, we heard something collapse," one survivor stated on Sunday.
Another recounted the harrowing experience, expressing astonishment at the sudden transition from standing atop the slab one moment to finding themselves submerged in water the very next.
She added that everyone was screaming while those in the well struggled to grasp any available object to stay afloat. A stampede ensued inside the well as victims pressed against each other to survive.
The confined well amplified the chaos as urgent cries echoed within the walls.
"I was holding on to something but I got pushed down back into the water. In the water everyone was stepping on whoever was down," she narrated.
Another concurred, disclosing that due to the huge number that fell in the well and its size, many helpless victims were stepped on, including children.
"In the well, I stepped on something and thought it was a jerrycan, but it turned out to be a child I pulled up. I do know if the child survived," she added, insisting that she risked her life for the safety of the minor.
One heartbroken mother narrated her futile attempts to save her daughter. Desperation drove her to use a shuka that ripped due to the weight. Devastatingly, her daughter was among the six victims who passed away.
As rescue operations unfolded amidst a chorus of anguished screams, passers-by mistook the cries for celebratory sounds associated with nuptials.
The victims were rushed to the Kenyatta University Teaching Research and Referral Hospital (KUTRRH), with some offered first aid treatment and discharged while others were admitted. Bodies of the deceased were also ferried to a nearby morgue.
Perminus Kioi, the Kiambu County police boss, assured that individuals responsible for the incident, including construction workers, would be held liable.
