A heavy atmosphere has settled over the Rongai home of Ann Njeri, one of the victims of the tragic Nithi Bridge accident that occurred on Saturday along the Meru-Nairobi highway.
The collision resulted in the deaths of 12 people, including children.
Njeri, along with her one-year-old daughter, was among those killed in the accident, which involved a Toyota Hiace en route to Nairobi and a Toyota Hilux heading towards Chogoria around 9 pm.
On Sunday, family and friends gathered in mourning, with the somber mood reflecting the profound loss they are experiencing.
Lucy Kiende, a relative, recalled her last interaction with Njeri, saying, “We were together on Friday.
Njeri mentioned she was traveling to Karina, Meru. She seemed prepared for the journey when we last saw each other,” Kiende said with visible sadness.
Njeri’s father-in-law, Julius Kamau, described the moment they received the tragic news early Sunday morning.
“We were informed about the accident in Meru around 3 am, and shortly after, we learned that both my daughter and her child had died,” Kamau recounted.
The 22 members of The Vision Group were on a trip to seek blessings from the parents of one of their members.
Tharaka Nithi police commander Zacheaus Ng’eno confirmed that the deceased included 10 adults and two children, all traveling in the same vehicle.
Two others in a pickup truck, including the driver, sustained injuries and were transported to a hospital in Chogoria.
Ng’eno explained that the accident occurred when the Nairobi-bound vehicle, unfamiliar with the road, swerved into the wrong lane, leading to a head-on collision with the approaching car.
“The vehicle was not accustomed to the Meru-Embu road and was in the incorrect lane, causing the crash,” Ng’eno said.
Emily Nzasu, a survivor and member of The Vision Group, described how their matatu initially veered off course but was brought under control by the driver.
She explained that the accident occurred after a failed overtaking maneuver, resulting in the driver losing control and colliding head-on with the vehicle coming from Meru.
