Village in Nyeri mourns four traders who died in a road accident

Relatives of the late Mary Kimani display her photo she passed away on February 8 2016 after a truck which they were traveling in together with her colleagues involved in a grisly accident along Othaya-Kiria-ini Road. PHOTO:KIBATA KIHU/STANDARD.

A village in Nyeri is in grief after four businesswomen died in a road accident on Monday afternoon.

 The four traders – Jane Njeri, Lucy Mwihaki, Gladys Wacera and Naomi Wanjiku – had worked side-by-side at Kagicha market in Othaya constituency for the last 15 years.

Even as villagers and relatives mourned yesterday, fellow traders and loyal customers felt the void as market stalls the four occupied remained empty.

"Every Monday for the past five years, my wife and her friends would travel to Murang'a for their market produce which they would then sell at Kagicha market on Thursday," Sammy Kimani said.

For Kimani, death has dealt him and his three young children a cruel blow.

"She has been taken from me too soon. I don't know how I will move on because Njeri was the one who handled everything," he said.

Joseph Kariuki, who lost his mother Wanjiku said she and three other victims were great friends as they travelled together in search of farm produce to sell.

"They have travelled as far as Nyandarua, Kirinyaga and Embu in search of vegetables. They hired a vehicle they trusted because they often used it each week to carry their produce home," Kariuki said.

After a successful trip to Muranga , the four had reportedly hired the vehicle to take them and their cargo home in Othaya.

On their way home, the driver lost control of the vehicle while driving uphill.

Deputy County Commissioner Charles Laboso said the passengers attempted to jump off the truck that was heavily loaded when they realised the driver was struggling to regain control.

"They tried to jump off the truck to save their lives but unfortunately the vehicle ran them over. Five people, who included four women and a man, died on the spot. Three others survived the crash and are admitted at the Nyeri Referral Hospital," he said.