Pain, confusion as Murang'a family deals with the deaths of five

Wachengu bridge along Chomo-Kahunyo road, where six people lost their lives on October 25, 2025.

In Ndia village, Gatanga subcounty in Murang’a county, residents are congregated in a home, sitting in groups and speaking in hushed voices.

The household, belonging to Macharia Kanyoroku, who died three years ago, is grappling with the loss of five family members, who died in a road accident on Saturday.

The accident occurred just two kilometres from the home at 8.30 pm. The family members were travelling from Kiambaa in Kiambu county, where they had attended a dowry ceremony.

Survivor Alice Wangechi is walking with a limp. The harrowing experience that almost claimed her life and that of her son, killed her husband Paul Karanja.

Karanja perished together with his two brothers Elijah Kamau and Peter Mwangi. Mwangi's wife Alice Wambui, their nephew Amos Kihara and an unidentified woman also died in the accident.

Wangechi recounted that the vehicle had just left Thika-Gatura road for the murramed Chomo-Kahunyo road, when the vehicle started swaying before speeding uncontrollably downhill towards Kiama river.

At the bottom of the hill is the narrow Wachengu bridge that does not have guardrails and is located on a sharp corner at the boundary of Kariara and Gatanga wards.

Wangechi said before they reached the bridge, the driver announced the brakes had failed and he had lost control of the vehicle.

“We panicked and everybody started screaming. I can’t remember how it happened but after that, I remember the feeling of water covering my face and I tried frantically to cover my nose with my hands”.

In between consciousness and sub-consciousness, Wangechi said she unknowingly moved her leg and heard rescuers say she was alive and rushed to help her.

The household of Macharia Kanyoroku, whose three sons died in a road accident in Gatanga, Murang'a, on October 25, 2025

Her nine-year-old son Boniface Njoroge, a Grade 3 pupil at Gatunguru Primary School, managed to jump out of the vehicle from the window and together with another boy, ran to the roadside where they shouted for help from passersby.

His actions helped save his family members as boda boda operators and passersby rushed to their rescue.

The victims were taken to Kirwara Level 4 Hospital, where Wangechi was treated and discharged the following day. It is not yet clear how many passengers were in the vehicle.

Elias Muchiri said the family received the news of his brothers' death with shock, especially after spending such a happy time together.

He said the deceased drowned after they were trampled on by the other passengers as they struggled to save themselves when the vehicle plunged into the river and landed on its side.

Muchiri appealed to the government and well-wishers to help them with the burial. He said they are yet to start burial preparations as they are too focused on those admitted in hospitals.

"We need lots of finances to organise the burial of the five. We have not even met. We don't know where to start," he said

His sentiments were echoed by Dorcas Wanjiru, a neighbour, who said the entire village is in shock over the deaths.

The accident, she added, orphaned several children and widowed women, totally altering the course of their lives.

Alice Wangechi, who survived the accident together with her nine-year-old son, but lost her husband, Peter Karanja

But at the bridge, road users complained over local leaders’ inability to repair the guardrails, whose lack has led to the deaths of at least 10 people in the past.

Edwin Wainaina, a boda boda operator from the Kahunyo area, said the bridge‘s location on a corner makes it dangerous, especially for new riders and motorists.

“They sped up down the hill only to find the bridge at the bottom and on a corner with no time to control the vehicle”.

Samuel Mwangi, another operator who ferries milk for Kigoro Dairy Co-operative Society, said he has used the road every day for almost two decades.

The bridge, he said, has had the guardrails erected several times but are vandalised by scrap metal dealers who leave it precariously unguarded.

A salon car crossing Wachengu bridge where a matatu lost control and plunged into the Kiama River, killing six on Saturday.

But the last time the guardrails were vandalised was more than 10 years ago, he claimed, and the bridge has remained unrepaired since, despite the road being very busy and leading to the homes of several local leaders.

“We want the guardrails and signposts erected to indicate to new motorists that there is a sharp corner and bridge along the road, all the way from the main road so that the accidents can be averted”.

James Karoki said he found the accident just seconds after it occurred and was among the rescuers.

“The vehicle took the plunge headfirst. We had to use an axe to cut it open and pull the passengers out,” he said.

The incident occurred just weeks after another family from Kandara subcounty suffered a similar fate after 16 of its members perished in an accident along the Nthe akuru-Nairobi highway while travelling from Rongai, where they had visited an ailing aunt.

Instant Analysis

 Alice Wangechi survived the accident together with her nine-year-old son but lost her husband, Paul Karanja. At the bridge, road users complained over local leaders’ inability to repair the guard rails, whose lack has led to the deaths of at least 10 people in the past.