The family of Venice Kwamboka Mokaya, a 19-year-old who tragically died from electrocution at the Summertides Festival in Diani on July 6, 2025, is demanding justice, alleging negligence by event organisers.
The incident, which occurred during a night of revelry at the Jacaranda Hotel, coincided with a controversial government-ordered travel ban that stranded hundreds of youths at the Dongo Kundu Bypass, preventing them from catching the 2 p.m. Standard Gauge Railway (SGR) train to Nairobi.
Venice Mokaya, celebrated for her vibrant spirit in a TikTok post on her February 6 birthday, was among thousands of Gen Z attendees at Summertides, a popular coastal festival known for its DJ lineups and beachside parties.
According to reports, Mokaya suffered a fatal electric shock from a live wire at the event venue, despite being rushed to a nearby hospital.
Influencer Maryam Myles, a friend, mourned her on Instagram, writing, “Such a sweet soul is gone. Mokaya went to Diani knowing she was going to come back home… Not knowing she was going to her own death.”
Myles expressed heartbreak for Mokaya’s parents, who expected to see their daughter after the festival.
The tragedy unfolded as police, citing security concerns, blocked the Dongo Kundu Bypass, a key route to Mombasa’s SGR Terminus, to prevent youths from joining the July 7 Saba Saba protests in Nairobi.
The Mokaya family, backed by community leaders, is calling for a thorough investigation into the festival’s safety protocols, questioning how a live wire was left exposed.
