Fourteen members of an extended family who lost their lives in the Kariandusi road crash will be laid to rest next week in what promises to be a deeply emotional farewell spread across three counties.
The victims, who perished in the tragic accident on September 28, will be buried in separate ceremonies in Nyeri, Murang’a, and Nakuru counties to allow relatives in different regions to participate in mourning.
On Wednesday, a moving memorial mass was held at St Matthew Catholic Church in Kandara Constituency, Muranga County, where hundreds of mourners—among them political leaders, clergy, and neighbors—gathered to console the bereaved families.
Burial committee chair Anthony Ndura confirmed that five of the victims will be interred on Monday in ceremonies led by Catholic Church, while three others will be buried on Tuesday under the Anglican Church of Kenya. The remaining six will be laid to rest between Wednesday and Friday in Nyeri and Nakuru.
“The families agreed to spread the burials so that relatives in all the counties can fully take part in giving their loved ones a dignified send-off,” Ndura explained.
First Lady Mama Rachel Ruto, who attended the service, pledged government support while urging unity during the difficult moment.
“Our presence here is to stand with you, to encourage you, and to remind you that there is a God in heaven who heals all wounds,” she said, adding that grief had to be met with compassion and togetherness.
She acknowledged the heavy financial and emotional burden on the families, but noted that Kenyans had shown resilience and solidarity.
“Kenya is one family. Whatever the pain, we face it together as one people,” she said.
In response to the tragedy, the government announced it had waived Sh4.2 million in funeral costs and promised counseling services for the grieving relatives.
The accident, one of the deadliest in recent months, involved a 14-seater matatu and a trailer along the busy Nakuru-Nairobi highway. Witnesses recounted how the matatu collided head-on with the oncoming trailer, crushing the smaller vehicle instantly. The trailer later veered off and overturned, though its cargo remained intact.
The violent impact scattered debris and personal effects across the road, painting a grim picture of the country’s road carnage that continues to claim lives.
As the families prepare to bury their kin, the tragedy has reignited debate over road safety and the need for stricter measures to protect travelers on Kenya’s highways.
