The sleepy Kahiga village, in Kandara subcounty, Murang’a county, on Wednesday, played host to thousands of people, an occurrence that has not been seen before.
A dark cloud of grief hovered as residents struggled to deal with the shock of the loss of 16 members of a family, who perished in a road accident on the Nairobi-Nakuru highway.
At Kahiga Catholic church, residents could be seen huddling under trees for shade, relying on the loudspeakers from the church to follow proceedings.
The church was packed beyond capacity, with young and old showing up to attend an interdenominational church service organised by local clergymen, with the support of local leaders.
In a nearby tent, blood-curdling screams could be heard, as some family members, who were yet to be informed that their loved ones had perished, were finally given the information, some staggering out of the tent in utter shock and lying on the grass as their loved ones tried to console them.
Sorrow was written all over their faces and some women could be seen wiping their tears away with their leos.
At the church, congregants were informed that a Sh4.2 million budget for a burial ceremony had been drawn, an amount that could not be raised by the villagers.
“Our plan is to have a common burial but we have budgeted for each of the deceased persons because they will have to be transported to their homes for the final rites,” a spokesperson said.
Five will be buried in Kahiga village, one in Mairi village, one in Nyeri county, three in Kangui village, two in Gacharage and three in Naivasha, Nakuru county.
Nominated Senator Veronicah Maina, First Lady Rachel Ruto and Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina arrive at Kahiga Catholic church for an interdenominational church service on October 1, 2025 /ALICE WAITHERA
Transportation costs, the congregants were told, were immense, and the villagers required the support of leaders as well as the government.
Further, 12 children whose four mothers and grandparents died require financial support to complete their education.
First Lady Rachel Ruto, who attended the church service, assured residents the government would dispatch a team of psychologists to help the families affected to process their grief.
“I will liaise with Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale to provide counselling psychologists so they can heal and move on with their lives,” she said.
The First Lady said she was informed about the tragedy by Murang’a Woman Representative Betty Maina and made request to meet the family to offer support and condole with them.
“My presence here is to be with you, encourage you and tell you that whatever happened, happened but there’s a God in heaven who wipes tears away,” she told the congregation.
The First Lady said such a huge and tragic loss can be difficult to understand or explain.
“I know there is a feeling of asking many questions and many of those questions may not be answerable but God gives peace and comfort that cannot be given by any man,” she said.
Rachel said many people struggle to handle loss, and multiple deaths may be too much for some people psychologically.
“I can assure you the government will continue standing with this family until the burial is conducted and beyond,” the First Lady said.
Kahiga residents during an interdenominational church service held at Kahiga Catholic church on October 1, 2025 / ALICE WAITHERAShe expressed admiration that the family had come together to travel to Rongai in Nakuru to comfort a sick aunt.
The First Lady appealed to the family not to abandon the practice of supporting one another just because of the tragedy.
She also lauded members of the community for rallying together to support the family in preparing the burial and providing moral support.
Rachel contributed Sh2 million towards the burial preparations while Maina contributed Sh300,000. Kandara MP Chege Njuguna gave Sh200,000, Kangema MP Peter Kihungi Sh100,000, Maragua MP Mary Waithera Sh100,000 and nominated senator Veronica Maina Sh100,000.
Kenya Rural Roads Authority chairperson Anthony Mwaura donated Sh300,000, relieving the residents of the burden of contributing towards the burial.
MP Maina, however, expressed concerns over the many tragedies reported in the county in the recent past, including the murder of Hannah Wanjiku, who was killed and her body packed and transported to Kangari using a taxi.
Last week, an elderly woman was raped, murdered and her body dumped in a dam in Maragua town, just months after her three-year-old daughter Eliza Wamaitha was sexually assaulted, killed and dumped in a pond.
“There’s mourning in every corner of the county and it calls for prayers,” Maina who helped organise the church said, asking political leaders to refrain from politics during the event.
She, however, thanked the First Lady for supporting the cause, saying the government’s support will make the burden easier for residents and the family to bear.
Njuguna pledged to have the orphaned children provided with scholarships through the NG-CDF until they complete their education while Mwaura urged the government to consider employing educated young people from the family as a way of offering support.
by ALICE WAITHERA
