As questions swirl over Sunday's Kariandusi road crash that killed 16 members of the same family, relatives insist the driver of the ill-fated matatu, Elijah Mburu, was not a reckless man, but a devoted father and breadwinner who lived for family unity.
The 34-year-old driver of the matatu that collided head-on with a trailer on the Nairobi–Nakuru highway was on Tuesday, September 30, remembered by his mother as a God-fearing man who loved life.
Mburu and his passengers — all close relatives — perished as they headed to Lanet in Nakuru County to visit Pauline Muthoni, a 65-year-old aunt who was unwell.
Ms Susan Wanjiru, 56, mother of Elijah Mburu, the driver involved in the Kariandusi tragedy that claimed 13 lives on September 28, 2025.
Photo credit: Pool, Boniface Mwangi | Nation
Mburu’s mother, Susan Wanjiru, defended her son’s character, describing him as a disciplined young man who was sober and never touched drugs or alcohol.
“The family had every reason to feel safe in his hands. He was a man who loved God, loved life, and was committed to his family. I myself would have been on that trip, but at the last minute it was agreed that Elijah would represent me, besides driving the vehicle,” she said.
To support his hustle, family members had hired his vehicle for the journey, each of the 13 adults contributing Sh2,000.
Police officers inspect the wreckage of a trailer that was involved in a road accident at Kariandusi on the Nakuru-Nairobi highway on September 28, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
Among the dead were Mburu’s grandfather, 85-year-old Elijah Mburu (after whom he was named), his grandmother Lydiah Njeri, 75, and his mother’s twin sisters Naomi Wangui and Joyce Wambui, both aged 35.
His mother also lost two other sisters, Catherine Njambi, 30, and Pauline Muthoni, 28.
The tragedy also claimed the lives of Mr Robinson Karanja, 85 — brother to the grandmother — aunts, distant relatives and four children.
Mr Mburu leaves behind a widow and four young children, aged between nine and one-and-a-half years old.
A carpenter by training, he left school in Form Three and later became a driver.
He worked as a conductor before becoming a school bus driver and eventually a matatu operator. By the time of the crash, he had six years’ experience in the industry and had built a reputation as an accident-free driver.
“He was obedient and dutiful, and always available for family gatherings. His death has broken us,” said Ms Wanjiru, who plans to bury her son at her matrimonial home in Mweiga, Nyeri County.
Family spokesman Charles Maina, 54, described the tragedy as “cruel irony,” noting that Mburu, named after his grandfather, had become “the one fate chose to carry the family into death.”
The scene of a road accident at Kariandusi on the Nakuru-Nairobi highway where 16 members of the same family who were travelling in a 14-seater matatu were killed after a head-on collision with a trailer on September 28, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation Media Group
"I believe it was an accident. Elijah was not malicious or reckless. If he were here today, you would see what a kind soul he had,” Mr Maina said.
Another uncle, Mr Zachariah Mwangi, 45, described Mburu was “a peaceful soul”, adding that it was unthinkable that he had died in such violent circumstances.
He recalled how, just hours before setting off on his journey, Mburu had spent the evening with his grandparents and aunts at their home in Kangui, Nyeri, joking that his matatu was “like a jumbo jet in both speed and power”.
Mr Mwangi added that his nephew had maintained an accident-free record while plying the Nairobi–Nyeri, Nyahururu, Nairobi–Nakuru and most recently Nairobi–Dandora routes.
“This crash has nearly wiped out our family lineage,” he said.
Two relatives comfort each other after being overwhelmed by emotion upon viewing the bodies of their 14 family members, who perished in a road crash on the Nakuru-Nairobi highway in Kariandusi on Sunday.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
On Tuesday, grief engulfed Gilgil Sub-County Hospital Mortuary as the families of the accident victims came together once again — this time to witness the post-mortem examinations.
The air was heavy with sorrow as relatives clung to one another for comfort. Some wailed uncontrollably, while others sat in stunned silence, still struggling to accept the tragedy that had shattered their lives.
Victims of the crash: (from left) Lydiah Njeri Mburu, top: Joyce Wambui, Elijah Mburu, Naomi Wangui, Catherine Njambi, Pauline Muthoni, Loise Wambui, bottom: Robinson Karanja, Lydiah Wanjiru, Beatrice Waithira, Lydia Wanjiru, Evelyn Nyawira and Elija Mburu (driver).
Photo credit: Pool
After the examinations, the bodies were carefully placed in body bags and loaded into a waiting hearse.
According to the family's representative, Mr Daniel Gikonyo, 12 of the bodies are being taken to Murang'a County for preservation, which will allow time for burial preparations to be made. The two others, who were residents of Naivasha, will be buried in Nakuru County.
“It is a huge burden for the family. From here, we begin the painful journey of preparing to lay of our loved ones to rest. It is too much for us. We plead with both the national and county governments to come to our aid so we can give them a befitting send-off. It has not been easy, but we thank God for the strength,” Mr Gikonyo said.
A man weeps after he witnessed bodies of his relatives moved from Gilgil Sub-county hospital morgue to a hearse, ready to be transferred to Murang'a after undergoing postmortem on September 30, 2025.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
Another mourner, Ms Naomi Karanja who lost her father, sister and niece appealed to well-wishers for support, noting that many of the victims were breadwinners whose dependents now face an uncertain future.
Dr David Kuria Samson, who oversaw the postmortems, confirmed that the victims died of internal bleeding and severe head injuries, consistent with the sudden deceleration caused by the impact.
“Some had additional injuries to the legs, chest and abdomen. We also rescued three survivors, who were rushed to St Mary’s Hospital before being referred to Lanet Hospital and Nakuru Teaching and Referral Hospital. They remain in stable condition,” Dr Kuria said.
He added that the Nakuru and Murang'a county governments had waived embalming, preservation and post-mortem fees.
