By Daniel Wesangula and Gatonye Gathura
Kenya: Other than falling to a bullet, a Nairobi youth might most likely not make it back home as a result of a road accident.
This risk is higher during the weekend, says Dr Johannes Oduor, the chief government pathologist, who has done a survey in collaboration with Prof Hassan Saidi of Chiromo Campus.
“Some accidents can be described as acts of God, but most of these road fatalities are alcohol related,” says Oduor. From outside looking in, the life of 21-year-old Celestine Awuor paints a bleak picture. Unemployed, uneducated and widowed, Baba Dogo slums in Nairobi continues to hand her and her 14 month old daughter harsh life lessons.
And class has been harder since the passing of her 23- year old husband and childhood sweetheart Elkana Ominde. Before his demise, Elkana, a boda boda operator on the busy Thika Super Highway was the sole breadwinner for the small family.
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On June 16th he was hit from behind by a bus. “Those who were there say he died on the spot. They also say the bus driver was drunk,” she told Sunday Standard during an interview on Thursday.
Barely a month after she was widowed, the bitterness is yet to thaw. “I keep asking myself what would have happened if the bus driver had not been drunk. Could he have braked in time? Could we still be together? Would my life be better,” she asks rhetorically. In two quick moves she rubs off the tears rolling down her cheeks with the back of her hands. Then gets on with her daily chores. She has been employed by a local “laundry” to wash clothes for Sh150 a day.
