MURANGA, Kenya – Kahiga village in Kandara, Murang’a County, has been plunged into mourning after 16 members of the same extended family perished in a grisly road accident along the Nakuru–Nairobi highway on Sunday.
The victims were travelling to Rongai, Nakuru County, to visit an ailing relative when their vehicle collided with another, leaving behind devastation that has shaken the entire community.
Tents have already been erected at the homestead of Rodovich Gikonyo, who lost his parents, sisters, an uncle, cousins and several other relatives in the crash.
Speaking amid tears, Gikonyo said he was meant to accompany them but dropped out of the trip at the last minute due to financial constraints.
“I was to join them with my wife, but our daughter in college needed shopping money and a gas refill. We decided to send her the little we had instead. That decision saved our lives,” he said.
The accident also claimed the lives of a woman and her three children who had joined the family in Nairobi for the trip.
Two survivors who were rushed to hospital later succumbed to their injuries, pushing the death toll to 16.
The driver, identified as Gikonyo’s nephew and namesake Elijah Mburu, was a seasoned matatu operator familiar with the Nakuru and Nyeri routes.
Now, the family faces an uphill task of raising funds for post-mortems, transportation of bodies and burial expenses.
Each post-mortem costs at least Sh15,000, and the overall cost has ballooned beyond their means.
“This tragedy has left us not only broken but also helpless. We appeal to the government and well-wishers to help us give our loved ones a dignified send-off,” said Gikonyo.
Michael Njumbi, another relative, described the harrowing scene at the hospital, saying most victims suffered fatal injuries at the point of impact. He urged the government to fast-track expansion of the busy highway.
“This road claims too many lives. Dualing it is no longer optional—it’s urgent,” he said.
Area MCA Naomi Njuguna echoed the call, adding that motorists must exercise caution to prevent such tragedies. She said she had contacted Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata to help the family with logistics.
“Beyond financial support, these families will need psychological counselling to cope with the trauma of such an immense loss,” Njuguna added.
The accident has reignited debate over road safety and the state of major highways, with calls growing louder for both government action and individual responsibility on Kenya’s roads.
