Four dead in Kilifi Christmas morning accident
Ms Agnes Mombo, 23, a graduate of Kibabii University, Mr Benjamin Mkudi Dubi, 27, a graduate of Kenyatta University and Mr Oscar Peter Okumu, a graduate of Technical University of Mombasa who died along with his brother the late Benjamin Dubi after being hit by a vehicle at Damview area along the Kaloleni-Mariakani highway on Wednesday, December 25, 2024.
Four people were killed in an early Christmas morning accident in Damview area along Kaloleni-Mariakani road in Kilifi.
The four were among a group of youths returning home after attending the Mr and Ms Mariakani beauty pageant at Atlantis Hotel on Christmas Eve.
Confirming the incident, Kaloleni sub-county police commander Ibrahim Aden said three pedestrians died on the spot while the fourth succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at Mariakani Health Centre on Wednesday morning.
"Confirmed four fatalities, one is a lady. Three died on the spot and one died at Mariakani Hospital," he said.
Another casualty is being treated at the Mariakani Health Centre.
According to a police report, Mr Stephen Fakur Rando was driving a Toyota Porte, registration number KCW 889S, from Kaloleni to Mariakani town.
Near Damview Hotel, Mr Rando, a Kilifi County employee, rammed into six pedestrians who were walking along the road.
Mr Wilbert Mombo of Mwareni village in Mariakani County, the father of the late Agnes Mombo, 23, said he received news of the fatal accident at around 4:45 am.
"My former schoolmates were at the scene of the accident and they informed me of the fatal accident and the death of my daughter. They came straight to my house and woke me up," he said.
Accompanied by neighbours, Mr Mombo went to the Mariakani police station to identify the body.
"I found my daughter lying there with head injuries," he lamented.
He said his daughter had been one of the young people who had organised the Mr and Ms Mariakani event.
Mourning his first-born child, the father said they were not on the road to be hit and that the accident happened at around 4.30 am.
"We went to the scene of the accident and I discovered that they had run off the road," he lamented.
Ms Agnes graduated from Kibabii University last year with a degree in hospitality.
The father of four expressed his concern and called on the police to do justice to the families who lost their loved ones.
According to Mr Mombo, they were given a cold reception at the Mariakani police station investigation office when they returned from the Coast General Hospital to give feedback on the post-mortem appointment.
Mr Mombo said witnesses revealed that the driver was drunk and speeding.
"I am appealing for justice. Nobody should interfere with the evidence because the eyewitness saw everything. It will be a great injustice if the families have lost their children and someone is trying to cover up to deny them justice," he said.
Another parent from Jakaba village in Mariakani, Mr Wilfred Odeya, is mourning his two sons, the late Benjamin Dubi, 27, and Oscar Okumu, 25, while another, a 24-year-old, is battling for life at the Mariakani Health Centre with broken legs and back injuries.
The late Okumu, who graduated from the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM) in December 2024, was among those who died on the spot.
The late Dubi, a graduate of Kenyatta University, lost his battle on Christmas morning while being prepared for a scan at a Mombasa hospital.
Mr Odeya said the doctor called him at 5.45 am and that his child was in a critical condition at the hospital.
"My child had broken legs and severe head injuries while another was on oxygen and I could only recognise him later after a long search," he said.
Even as he concentrated on his two sons in hospital, Mr Odeya was unaware that his son Dubi had died and was taken by the police to the Coast General Hospital mortuary.
Mr Odeya mourned his sons and asked for prayers.
"We have nothing to say and leave everything to God as we ask for prayers and ask him to condole with us at this difficult moment we are going through," he said.
A source, who asked not to be named as he is not authorised to speak to the press, said the driver was speeding and overtaking when he hit the pedestrians.
"The driver had dropped a friend at his house after spending time together and was rushing back at a high speed.
"He was overtaking and in front of him was a matatu travelling from Mariakani to Kaloleni and a pedestrian who was walking.
"Because he was speeding he could not control the vehicle while avoiding hitting them and rammed into the pedestrians with that impact," said the source.
The four bodies are at the Coast General Hospital morgue awaiting post-mortem examinations.
