A devastating road accident on September 28, 2025, claimed the lives of 13 family members from Kahiga village in Murang’a County. The tragic incident occurred along the Nakuru-Nairobi highway when a family, en route to visit a sick relative in Rongai, Nakuru County, was involved in a fatal crash.
Rodovich Gikonyo, a member of the bereaved family, shared that the vehicle was carrying his father Elijah Mburu, mother Lydia Njeri, sisters Joyce Wambui, Naomi Wangui, and Catherine Njambi, as well as several other relatives. Among the deceased were Gikonyo’s uncle Robinson Karanja and his two children, Naomi Wangui and Beatrice Waithera, and cousins Grace Waithera and Eunice Ruguru. The vehicle had also picked up four additional passengers from Nairobi, including a woman and her three children, all of whom perished in the crash.
Gikonyo had initially planned to join the trip but had to stay behind after his daughter, who is in college, called for financial assistance. Unfortunately, this decision meant that he and his wife were spared from being involved in the tragic accident.
The accident took place when the driver, Gikonyo’s nephew Elijah Mburu, who was an experienced matatu driver, lost control of the vehicle. After the crash, two family members who were rescued and rushed to the hospital succumbed to their injuries, raising the death toll to 16.
The family is now faced with the enormous financial burden of funding the post-mortem procedures and transporting the bodies back to Murang’a for burial. With the cost of one post-mortem set at KSh 15,000, the family estimates that over KSh 100,000 will be required to cover all the expenses. This amount is beyond their financial capabilities, and they are appealing to well-wishers and the government for support.
Family members who visited the hospital to identify their loved ones were deeply shocked by the severity of the injuries, especially those who were seated near the point of impact. The community, still reeling from the loss, is now calling for immediate action to improve road safety.
Michael Njumbi, a relative, emphasized the need for the government to expand the busy Nairobi-Nakuru highway to reduce the frequency of fatal accidents on the route. Area MCA, Naomi Njuguna, echoed the call for increased care from motorists and urged the government to consider expanding the highway to make it safer. She also reached out to Governor Irungu Kang’ata to provide assistance with the transport of the bodies.
As the family prepares for burial, Njuguna highlighted the importance of offering psychological support to help the grieving relatives cope with their immense loss.
