Kiambu Mother Recalls Watching Helplessly As Daughter Died In Ruiru Wedding Tragedy: "I Cried"

• A heart-wrenching incident unfolded in Kiambu as a wedding celebration turned tragic, leaving six people dead on Saturday, August 19
• The incident occurred during a joyous wedding ceremony in Ruiru when an underground water tank collapsed, claiming six lives
• Desperate to save her daughter, Mary tried to rescue Lucy with a leso, but chaos and panic hindered her efforts

Kiambu - A woman from Gatundu has recounted the harrowing moment when her daughter drowned in an underground water tank during a tragic wedding ceremony in Ruiru.

The woman's daughter was among the six people that perished on Saturday, August 19, after a group of wedding attendees, majorly from the groom's side, fell into the tank after the slab caved in.

Kiambu mother's efforts to save daughter

Recounting the distressing moment to Citizen TV, Mary said after her daughter Lucy Nduta fell into the well with others, she tried to save her using her leso, but her efforts were unsuccessful.

The deceased's mother said she threw the leso into the well, as her plan was to push her out, but sadly, the chaos around the well inhibited her efforts to save her.

"I took a leso and threw it in the well, but some people held me back. I started crying because I could not find my daughter," she heartbreakingly said.

A survivor also narrated that the slab covering the tank caved in as they danced.

She said their excitement reached fever pitch after they saw the bride coming out of the house, and as they sang and danced, the cover gave in to their weight, leading to the tragic crumble.

"The cheers quickly turned into screams, and I tried to hold on to something, but I was then pushed back into the water. I remember I was even stepping on people while trapped in the tank. I saw death with my eyes, and I told God to help me," she recalled.

Among those who fell were also children and a 16-year-old was also among those who died in the wedding incident.

How did Ruiru wedding tragedy happen?

The guests were singing and dancing on top of the well that is in the bride's compound when tragedy struck.

According to a police report by Kiambu Police Commander Perminus Kioi, the concrete covering the well collapsed under the pressure exerted by the weight of the individuals.

"The concrete covering of the water tank collapsed due to the weight of the said persons, and the six drowned. Rescue operations were mobilised, and 11 people were retrieved, including two children who were taken to Ruiru hospital," he said.