Six die at Mombasa bridal fete after falling into pit latrine

Mishomoroni residents at scene of the wedding tragedy on March 11. Six people died when a pit latrine they were standing on caved in. PHOTO | LABAN WALLOGA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

By  MOHAMED AHMED

What you need to know:

  • Most of the dead were children.
  • A family lost two children in the wedding tragedy.
  • Pit latrines to have warning signs.

Grief engulfed Tua Tugawe area in Mishomoroni on Saturday when six people died at a wedding.

The six died when they fell into a pit latrine that they were standing on during the ceremony known as “Nikah”.

Relatives, neighbours and friends condoled with the affected families.

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Among the dead in the 7pm incident, was a nursery school child identified as Mohammed Mwalim.

WAITING

Masoud Mwalim, 14, the brother of the boy also died. The pit was more than 50 feet deep.

“They were waiting for the bride to come out of the house when the latrine caved in. The pit easily collapsed because it was not well covered,” Mr Shakila Ramadhan, a witness, said.

Mr Mwalim Masoud, the father of the dead boys, said he was told of the incident while at home resting.

"When I rushed to the scene, I learnt that my son was among the victims,” he said.

SNEAKED

During the frenzied rescue mission, he realised his seven-year-old child was trapped in the hole.

Munira Adam, a Standard Six pupil and Habiba Mohammed who was in Standard Eight also died in the tragedy.

The others were Fatma Feiswal, 20, a student at Mtopanga Secondary School, and a 35-year-old woman. They died in hospital.

Habiba’s elder sister, Mwanaisha Mohammed, said the 14-year-old sneaked from the house to attend the wedding.

“No one knew that she was at the ceremony," she said.

“It was only after I went to the scene of the tragedy that I was told my sister was among the victims.”

WARNING

Feiswal, who was in Form Four, had moments before warned her younger sister against sitting on the latrine, only for her to fall into it, said her cousin, Aisha Gumba.

Families of the dead were preparing for burial on Sunday. One of the bodies was taken to Mazeras for burial.

Mombasa inspectorate director Mohammed Amir said officials would inspect pit latrines in the county.

He added a warning — Usikanyage hapa; Don’t step here — would be inscribed on latrines.

Residents showed the Nation several pit latrines that were not properly covered.

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