Former MP dies in road accident

By Renson Mnyamwezi

Former Voi MP Boniface Mganga died on the spot on Tuesday night in a grisly road accident along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway.

Police said the accident occurred near Tsavo River, some 50 kilometers away from Voi town. Mganga who is also a former assistant minister was alone at the time of the accident.

The scene of the accident is regarded as one of the major black spots in the country. It is within the same stretch where former scholar, Katama Mkangi died in a road accident a couple of years ago.

Boniface Mganga, the founder and director of Muungano National Choir, died in a road accident Tuesday night in Kenya.

Police said the deceased was alone in his Prado vehicle and was traveling from Nairobi to his Mbololo rural home when he met his death.

Until his death, Mganga, 52 was the chairman of the Kenya Utalii College Board of Directors.

Taita OCPD, Nathaniel Aseneka who confirmed the 8pm accident said the vehicle, in which the former minister was driving rammed into a trailer, which was traveling in the same direction killing him instantly.

“The former MP was trying to overtake a trailer moving in the same direction in a sharp corner and on seeing another vehicle coming from the opposite to avoid collusion, he swerved back to his lane and hit the rear part of a trailer,” said the police boss.

Aseneka said after the impact, Mganga’s vehicle veered off the road and landed into the bush killing him.

The police boss said traffic police from Mtito Andei town alerted police in the area who quickly responded and took the body to Voi district hospital.

Aseneka said family members later transferred the body of the deceased to Padya hospital mortuary in Mombasa as preparations for his burial continue.

He said it had not been established whether the deceased was speeding but investigations into the accident had been launched.

News of Mganga’s death spread like bush fire. Wailing family, relatives and friends jammed at Moi hospital where the body was first taken, as they came to terms with the tragedy.

And at his residence in the outskirts of Voi town, residents received the news of his death with shock and disbelief.

Mganga, a former Kanu ardent died at the height of his political career having recently declared interest for the post of Governor in the Taita-Taveta County. The deceased had recently started intense campaigns and lobbying to strategize on how to win the top position in the County.

“The death has robbed us one of our greatest sons whose future was bright. I’m lost for words,” said former cabinet minister Marsden Madoka who mourned with the family of the late Mganga.

The former musician cum politician was elected as the Voi MP in 2002 until the current MP Dan Mwazo floored him in the 2007 general elections.

Mganga who served as an administrator during the Kanu regime is a renowned choir master.

The former legislator is the founder member of the Muungano Choir, which he formed in Nairobi in 1979. The choir carried the Kenyan flag abroad and promoted diplomatic relations and Kenya’s cultural and national heritage.