Grief has engulfed Murang’a County after fourteen members of the same extended family lost their lives in a grisly road crash at Kariandusi along the Nairobi-Nakuru Highway.
Among the victims were 90-year-old family patriarch Elijah Mburu and his 76-year-old wife, Lydia Njeri.Their daughters, including twin sisters Lois Wamboi and Naomi Wango, aged 45, also died in the accident.
Other victims included their grandchildren, uncles, aunts and cousins who were travelling together for a family gathering in Rongai, Nakuru County.
The family had left their rural home in Kandara early Sunday morning, picking up other relatives from Nairobi and Naivasha before embarking on the ill-fated journey.
Their matatu, driven by 29-year-old grandson Elijah Mwithika, collided head-on with a truck shortly after midday.
CCTV footage from a nearby petrol station captured the moment of the crash. Mwithika, who was behind the wheel, also died in the collision.The tragedy has left surviving relatives and neighbours devastated, as the family was known for its unity and frequent gatherings.
One of the survivors, a young boy, is still receiving treatment at St Joseph Hospital in Nakuru after sustaining serious injuries.
Kahiga village in Kandara is now in mourning as burial preparations get underway.
The extended family is struggling with the cost of postmortems, hospital bills and the transportation of the bodies from Gilgil to Murang’a.
The Road Safety Association of Kenya has urged authorities to review the licensing of public service vehicle drivers to reduce rising fatalities.
According to official statistics, road deaths rose from 4,324 in 2023 to 4,748 in 2024 and continue to increase in 2025.
Time: 1:30
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