The wreckage of a van that was involved in an accident at the deadly Nithi bridge. At least 12 people died on the spot.
For three months, Ms Damaris Kathira and her friends planned for an occasion that would mark the beginning of a new chapter in her life.
The single mother, who runs a business in Rongai, Kajiado County, was going to receive parental blessings.
Last Friday, Ms Kathira travelled to her parents’ home at Kirirwa village, Imenti Central, in Meru, where she made arrangements for the big day.
On Monday, she narrated how her friends swarmed her home, singing and dancing in celebration. Saturday was all merry-making, dancing, and prayers. Before the events that followed a few hours later, it was all blessings for the 18 friends.
The group, composed of single mothers, engaged in various businesses in Rongai and had been together for a couple of months now.
They planned to have these events for all the 18 members and while Ms Kathira was the first on the list, her friend who lives in Kangundo, Machakos County, would follow. But she is no more.
Ms Teresiah Ndunge who died in the Nithi bridge road crash on August 31, 2024.
Today, Ms Kathira is in a dilemma on whether the event that was meant to usher in blessings was worth the lives of 12 people, who perished in a road crash at the notorious Nithi Bridge black spot in Tharaka Nithi County.
After the event, her friends boarded three vehicles and she bid them goodbye and remained behind with her parents.
Then tragedy struck.
At the descent towards Nithi Bridge, the driver of one of the vehicles, a Toyota Hiace, crossed the double yellow line dividing the road and used the climbing lane.
“We were in a convoy and I saw the driver overtake a vehicle ahead of us and sped down the hill using the climbing lane. At a sharp corner, the driver collided with an oncoming pick-up,” said a passenger, who was in one of the other vehicles.
All passengers in the van perished, while the driver of the pick-up and his passenger survived. Eight females, two males, and two children died on the spot.
On Monday, Ms Kathira, with a heavy heart, narrated the events that had broken her nerves and left her in shock and disbelief as plans for the group, comprising members drawn from various parts of the country, were brought to a dead end.
“My friends were in a jovial mood when they boarded the vehicles back home and we also prayed together. It was a day we had planned to be the culmination of our bond that would bring the 18 of us together as we travelled across the country seeking blessings from our parents. But our dreams have now been shattered,” Ms Kathira said.
“It will take a while before I come to terms with the reality that friends I have socialised with for years are gone... it's very devastating.”
For Purity Kiogora, the accident robbed her of her 50-year-old mother, Evangiline Kiogora, who lived with her in Rongai, where she also runs a business.
“We travelled well on Saturday and after the event, I decided to remain and attend to some personal matters. We spoke with my mom briefly before they boarded the vehicle and gave her instructions on how she could help open my fresh produce business on Monday. It was the last day I saw her…” she said, tears welling in her eyes.
Boniface Mukaria, who lost his sister Ms Peninah Kanyiri in the tragedy, said the family was in shock.
“I spoke to my sister last week and she told me she was fine. But she had not informed us she would be traveling for the occasion and when we got the news of her death, it was very shocking,” Mukaria said, adding that his sister had left behind an eight-year-old child.
The families have called on well-wishers to help lay their loved ones to rest.
“What has happened is tragic and families are struggling to bury their loved ones as they plan how to take care of children left behind by the single mothers and we ask for assistance from Kenyans of goodwill,” said George Mwenda, a family friend.
Meanwhile, doctors at the PCEA Chogoria Hospital where the two survivors of the accident are admitted, said the victims were responding well to treatment.
Dr Anne Mburu, the hospital's deputy chief medical officer, on Tuesday said the patients were doing well.
“The survivors had multiple injuries both minor and major. Currently, they are stable and we hope they will recover soon,” she said.
Dr Mburu said being near the Nithi Bridge black spot they are usually the first to respond to accidents by sending a team of medics to the scene.
“The accidents are of major concern because they have continued to cause trauma not only to the victims and families but also to communities living in this area. After treatment we also offer counselling to help victims and families cope with the tragic events,” she said.
At the Chuka Hospital mortuary where the 12 bodies were moved awaiting postmortem, the management said four of the victims had been identified, while two bodies were collected as families made plans for the burial.
