A family in Kandara, Murang’a County, has been plunged into deep mourning after a horrific road accident at Kariandusi, near Gilgil, claimed the lives of 13 relatives who were travelling together.
The accident occurred on Sunday, September 28, along the busy Nairobi–Nakuru highway, when a matatu carrying the family collided head-on with a trailer.
CCTV footage from a nearby petrol station captured the collision at around 12:05 p.m., showing both vehicles travelling at high speed before impact.
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Among the victims was family patriarch Elijah Mburu, his wife, four daughters, grandchildren, and close relatives.
The driver of the ill-fated matatu was also reported to be Mburu’s grandchild.
The family was on their way to Rongai, Nakuru, for a meeting with other relatives when tragedy struck.
Initial reports indicated that 13 people died on the spot, while three survivors were rushed to a Nakuru hospital. Sadly, they succumbed to their injuries shortly after admission.
Eyewitnesses recounted harrowing scenes as residents rushed to rescue survivors and offer first aid, with wreckage and personal belongings strewn across the highway.
The trailer involved in the crash overturned and came to rest in a roadside ditch, while the matatu was left mangled beyond recognition.
The accident caused heavy traffic snarl-ups in the Kikopey area as police officers worked to clear the road and recover bodies.
The tragedy has drawn widespread sympathy across the country. Roots Party deputy leader Justina Wamae was among those who sent condolences, describing the incident as “an unbearable loss.”
“My condolences to the family of Elijah Mburu from Kahiga Village in Kandara Constituency, mourning the loss of 13 relatives (same family) who perished in a road accident yesterday at Kariandusi, along the Nakuru Highway near Kikopey, travelling to attend a family function,” she wrote.
At their Kahiga village home in Kandara, grief-stricken relatives and neighbours gathered to console the family.
The bereaved have appealed to the government and well-wishers to assist with burial contributions, saying the tragedy has left them not only devastated but also financially overwhelmed.
Authorities have since launched investigations into the crash as Kenya continues to grapple with rising cases of fatal accidents on its highways.