The accident occurred when their vehicle collided head on with a truck. Photo/ tvnz.co.nz
A somber mood has engulfed a family in Mombasa after losing six members in a grisly road accident at Man Eaters along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway.
The family members were on Sunday traveling from Kitui to Mombasa after attending one of their cousin’s traditional wedding before the four wheel drive vehicle they were traveling in got involved in the accident.
Martin Mutua Maura (41), Mike Ndolo Mukumi (30), Felix Mulu Mutiso (24), Denis Rono Kivuva (24) and Charles Mainga Mukumi (21) died on the spot while the sixth victim Faith Mukeli (28) succumbed to injuries while being taken to Mtito Andei Hospital by Good Samaritans. The accident occurred when their vehicle collided head on with a truck.Sylvester Makalu, Mukeli husband, said he had asked his wife and the other relatives not to attend the ceremony but they insisted on going, adding that she would still be alive if they had listened to him. Makalu said he objected the idea of attending the ceremony since the cousin had not been active in family affairs.“I will live with the regret. But my dad pleaded with me to allow my wife to go. He even threatened never to talk to me if I didn’t let her attend the occasion. So I gave in with a heavy heart. I even contemplated not giving her money for transport as an excuse but it never worked. They all wanted to go for the ceremony,” said Makalu during an interview with the Nation at his home in Nyali.Makalu said he attempted to contact his wife and brother but their phones went answered forcing him to call one of his relatives, a police officer in Mtito Andei who confirmed the tragedy. Five bodies were taken to the Voi County Hospital Mortuary and one to Makindu mortuary awaiting burial.