Jackson Okuthe (right) with his mother Mary Auma in a past photo. Mr Okuthe died in an accident as he was in the process of preparing for his mother's burial.
Jackson Otieno Okuthe was at the forefront of preparations for his mother's final farewell at her home in Kanyangasi Village in North Kabuoch, Ndhiwa, Homa Bay County.
He had just arrived from Mombasa, where he works as an agent for a clearing and forwarding company.
His family received him last weekend, when they shared some light moments and made funeral arrangements.
Part of his plans to ensure the burial process would be successful was to make sure his siblings had decent clothes and could welcome mourners to their home.
His family said he had taken some clothes to a laundry in Homa Bay Town to be cleaned and was planning to collect them later ahead of his mother’s burial on April 4.
But Jackson, aged 46, died some moments later. He was hit by a matatu at the Homa Bay Town bus park on Tuesday evening as he was walking to meet a friend.
His body now lies at Med 25 Mortuary in Kirindo, the same facility where the body of his mother, Mary Auma, is also preserved.
Ms Auma died on March 3.
Earlier, before noon, Jackson left home and drove to Homa Bay Town.
His plans for the day, besides going to the laundry, included repairing his car.
The vehicle had a mechanical problem on one of its front tyres, and it had to be fixed by a mechanic.
His brother, Daniel Okuthe, said Jackson arrived at a garage on the Homa Bay-Kendu Bay Road, where he left his car under the care of the mechanic. He then took a motorcycle to the laundry shop.
"He was also planning to go to a local food kiosk to eat omena, which was his favourite food. The food joint is located just next to the bus park where the accident happened," Daniel said.
While at the food kiosk, Jackson got a call that the friend he was supposed to meet was on the opposite side of the bus park, and he had to walk to meet him. He was hit by an oncoming car as he walked to his friend.
Jackson died upon arrival at Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital.
His friend Elly Okello was with Jackson at home earlier that morning.
He said Jackson called him on Monday, saying he had arrived a few days earlier and wanted to meet him the following day.
"We were together from morning until midday, when he left to go to Homa Bay Town to repair his car. We were supposed to meet later in the day to share some thoughts," Mr Okello said.
But the meeting did not take place.
Mr Okello said he got a call that his friend had been involved in an accident.
"I was able to confirm the same from another friend. We all rushed to Homa Bay County Referral Hospital, where we were informed that our friend had died," he said.
At the scene, witnesses said they heard a loud bang.
First responders found Jackson pinned under a car that had travelled from Migori.
They had to manually lift the car and pull him out from underneath before taking him to hospital.
It was later revealed that the car which caused the accident was being driven by a tout.
Its driver had just stepped out to pay some fees to the county government before picking passengers at the bus park.
In the process, the tout spotted some passengers who were looking for a vehicle to board.
One of the drivers at the bus park who witnessed the accident said the tout decided to step into the driver’s seat so that he could get to the passengers before his competitors. That is when he hit Jackson.
The victim’s brother, Daniel, said mother and son will both be buried on April 4.
“My brother Jack, as his friends called him, was a man of the people. We have lost a jewel,” he said.
Homa Bay Sub-county Police Commander Emmanuel Kiplagat said the tout who caused the accident fled.
“Police officers, however, arrested the driver of the vehicle and the car was towed to the station,” the police boss said.
The driver was later released on police bail and is expected to take a plea on April 8.
Mr Kiplagat said it has become common for some drivers to leave their engines running when they leave their vehicles. He said this has caused multiple accidents in the past.
“Drivers should ensure they switch off their engines and take out the key,” the police officer said.
He also called on members of the public to help his officers trace the tout.
