16 Family Members Killed in Road Crash to Be Buried Next Week, Sh4.2 million Raised to Support Burial
- Christabel Adhiambo
- Oct 2
- 3 min read
Kahiga village in Murang’a County fell silent on Wednesday, its stillness broken only by the wails of mourners, as thousands gathered to honour 16 members of one family killed in a devastating road crash on the Nairobi Nakuru highway.
At Kahiga Catholic Church and surrounding grounds, mourners huddled under the shade of trees to follow the interdenominational memorial service over loudspeakers.
The church building was packed beyond capacity, with clergy, local leaders and community members leading prayers, Scripture readings and eulogies.
In a tent nearby, anguished relatives were informed one by one of the carnage. Some screamed, others fainted, while loved ones tried to console them as they lay on the grass overcome by grief.
Organisers disclosed that a Sh4.2 million budget has been prepared for the burials, a sum considered far beyond the means of this rural community.
Plans include a common burial event, though each body must ultimately be transported to its home village for final rites. Five victims are to be interred in Kahiga, one in Mairi, three in Kangui, two in Gacharage, three in Naivasha in Nakuru County and one in Nyeri County.
Among those addressing the congregation was First Lady Rachel Ruto, who pledged government support, including deployment of psychologists to counsel traumatised family members.
“I will liaise with Health CS Aden Duale to provide counselling psychologists so they can heal and move on with their lives,” she said, offering condolences and promising that the government would stand with the family through and after burial.
In solidarity, First Lady Rachael donated Sh2 million toward funeral arrangements. Other leaders contributed: Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina gave Sh300,000, Kandara MP Chege Njuguna Sh200,000, Kangema MP Peter Kihungi and Maragua MP Mary Waithera each Sh100,000, and Senator Veronica Maina Sh100,000.
Kenya Rural Roads Authority chairperson Anthony Mwaura added Sh300,000 to relieve locals of the financial burden.
MP Njuguna committed to sponsoring the education of the 12 orphaned children through the National Government Constituencies Development Fund.
Mwaura urged that qualified young people from the affected family be considered for government employment as another form of assistance.
Maina appealed for unity and restraint in political talk during the mourning period, saying, “There’s mourning in every corner of the county, it calls for prayer.”
The crash, which occurred on Sunday September 28 2025, involved a 14-seater matatu and a trailer. Witnesses said the matatu collided head on with the trailer, leaving it overturned.
Personal effects and debris were strewn across the highway. The tragedy has reignited public calls for enhanced road safety enforcement in Kenya.
Burial arrangements are scheduled to begin next week. According to the burial committee, the first services under the Catholic banner will take place on Monday, followed by Anglican services for some on Tuesday.
Victims hailing from Nyeri and Nakuru counties will be laid to rest midweek. Ndura, the chair of the burial committee, noted that spreading the burials across days and locations allows distant relatives to attend.
As Kahiga mourns and the state steps in, many residents hope that beyond financial pledges, stronger road safety measures will follow to prevent such devastation from happening again.
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