A family in Murang’a County is reeling from unimaginable grief after 14 of its members died in a grisly road accident on Sunday along the Nakuru–Nairobi Highway.
The crash occurred at Kariandusi near Gilgil when the 14-seater matatu they were travelling in collided head-on with a long-distance truck. Police say preliminary investigations point to dangerous overtaking by the matatu driver, who also perished in the collision.
Family spokesperson Patrick Mburu said the victims included his parents, Elijah Mburu and Lydia Njeri, his sisters Naomi Wangui, Loise Wambui, Pauline Muthoni, and Catherine Njambi, as well as cousins, nephews, nieces, uncles, aunts, and in-laws.
Among them were his cousin Beatrice Waithera Karanja, her husband Nahason Kanja, and their daughter, Chiru. Two aunts, Grace Waithera and Eunice, also lost their lives, alongside the matatu driver, who shared a name with the family patriarch.
The relatives had been en route to Solai in Rongai Sub-County for a family gathering. According to Mburu, the journey began at 6:30 am with pick-ups in Kandara, Kangui, Kasarani, and Dandora before the final stop in Naivasha.
“I identified all the 14 bodies. It was a heartbreaking scene—people who had left home hopeful, upbeat, and ready for a happy family get-together,” Mburu told reporters outside Gilgil Sub-County Hospital Mortuary.
Four other family members remain in critical condition at various facilities in Nakuru and Gilgil.
The family has appealed for assistance to cover hospital bills, post-mortems, and burial expenses. “Burying 14 relatives is too heavy for us. They died many kilometres from home, and we need support to give them a dignified send-off,” Mburu said.
Murang’a leaders have pledged to provide counselling services to help surviving relatives cope with the tragedy.
The Kariandusi crash came barely hours after another deadly accident on the same highway claimed six lives, including those of an ambulance crew, underscoring the perilous reputation of the busy corridor.
