A tragic accident on Sunday has left a family from Murang’a devastated after ten of their relatives died in a road crash at Kikopey.
The victims included grandparents, their daughters, a nephew, and an uncle. Seventeen family members were traveling in a 14-seater matatu to Nakuru for a visit to relatives when disaster struck.
The matatu collided head-on with a trailer along the busy Nakuru–Nairobi highway, turning a journey meant for reunion and joy into a scene of unimaginable loss.
Patrick Mburu, one of the surviving relatives, spoke about the pain that has gripped the family.
“In that vehicle were my parents, Elija and Lydiah Mburu, my sisters Pauline, Naomi, Joyce, and Catherine, my nephew, and my uncle,” he said, his voice heavy with grief.
The matatu was driven by Elijah Mburu, one of the family’s grandchildren. Three people survived the crash, including two adults and a four-year-old child, but they remain in critical condition in hospital.
For some family members, fate intervened in a narrow escape. Rodovic Gikonyo revealed that he was originally meant to join the trip but stayed behind because of an urgent matter regarding his daughter’s education.
“Had it not been for that emergency, we too would have been in that vehicle,” he reflected, the sense of relief mixed with sorrow apparent in his words.
Another family in the matatu also faced heartbreak. Steven Gicharu lost his wife and daughter, while his four-year-old son is still fighting for his life in hospital.
“The pain is unbearable,” he said, struggling to hold back tears.
In Murang’a, neighbors and extended family members are struggling to come to terms with the scale of the loss, as Kandara becomes a town shadowed by grief.
In Rongai, Nakuru, the family’s destination, preparations had been made to welcome them. Food was ready, chairs were set, and homes were prepared, all left untouched after the crash.
These empty spaces now serve as painful reminders of a reunion that was never to be.
The trailer driver, Juakali Vahavuka, described the moments leading to the crash. He said he tried to avoid the matatu but could not. “I tried to swerve, but the matatu seemed to be at high speed. It hit me,” he recounted.
Authorities have taken the bodies to Nakuru PGH mortuary, where they await postmortem examinations as families begin the painful process of organizing funerals.
Communities in both Murang’a and Nakuru are now united in mourning. Prayers continue for the recovery of the surviving relatives, while the scale of the tragedy has left everyone shaken.
A single accident has not only destroyed a family but also reminded the surrounding communities of how fragile life can be, turning what was meant to be a joyful gathering into a time of sorrow and reflection.The incident leaves a lasting mark on those who knew the family.
Leave feedback about this