Families mourn deaths of four pupils killed by speeding driver

By Faith Ronoh

Eldoret,Kenya-Lunch had been prepared for the teenagers before they went back for their afternoon classes. This was never to be.Instead, the families of the four pupils who lost their lives in a road accident in Burnt Forest, Eldoret, on Monday, were shell-shocked when news of the tragedy filtered in.

It was a rude way to start the first term of the New Year, Kenya’s Jubilee year. The families were plunged into mourning, their homes in a sombre mood, as they were yet to come to terms with the misfortune.

Friends, relatives and residents from the area gathered on Tuesday morning to console the bereaved. It became almost impossible for them to hold back tears of sorrow in what they termed as a tragic incident that robbed the four young pupils of ‘their future’.

As we alight at the home of one of the four pupils, we find family members seated outside their humble home, pain written all over their faces.

 Delphine Chepchumba, the mother of the late Hillary Kipng’etich who died in the tragic accident, painfully recalls the demise of her son, hardly holding back tears.

REPORTING TO SCHOOL

Chepchumba says she happily parted with her son on Monday morning when he was reporting to school, but little did she know that it was the last time she was setting her eyes on her 11-year-old.

Chepchumba says she had pleaded with him to report to school on the second day of opening, but Hillary was adamant.

“I cheerfully sent him to school early morning on Monday after which I attended to my normal activities. That morning he asked me the date of his birthday – something I found unusual,” Chepchumba explains.

She says she later received a call from a neighbour informing her of the accident that occurred during lunch hour.

“I ran towards the road when I received the call because my son had not arrived. On reaching the scene, I found his jacket before finding the body lying in a ditch,” says Chepchumba.

Chepchumba recalls that it was at that point that she realised her son was no more. The mother of three described her late son as hardworking, obedient and God-fearing.

“He always wanted to be a pilot. He was hard working and he took his education with a lot of seriousness,” Chepchumba explains.

ROBBED HOPE

Close to her home we meet with a family that lost two children aged seven and nine. Pauline and James Ekidor appear a bit composed, but the siblings to the deceased could not hide their pain.

Pauline, the mother of Beatrice Imoni, seven, and Eden Ekidor, nine, vividly recall her last time with her children. She says her children were her only hope for a brighter future, as she explains all the hurdles she has been through raising them without a job.

“My husband is a watchman in a nearby school where he is paid Sh3,000 per month. We have been struggling with our children to ensure that they get education, but death has robbed us of our only hope for a bright future,” Pauline says.

She adds: “It is very painful because my children left home only for us to be told they were dead. I have accepted the fact that they are gone, but the pain is uncontrollable,” Pauline says, tears slowly forming in her eyes.

James, her husband and the father to the two children who perished, could not talk because the pain was overwhelming. Another family in the vicinity mourns the loss of a young and vibrant girl, whom they say had just turned 12.

Vincent and Rebecca Wafula lost their only daughter, Priscilla Nekesa, and the expression on their faces clearly tells it all. After waiting for about 30 minutes, Vincent finally found the courage to talk to us.  He says he rushed to the scene of the accident just like other residents only to get the shock of his life when he found his daughter lying dead.

TOP PERFORMER

“Nilishtuka nilipomuona Priscilla kwenye mtaro (I was shocked to see Priscilla in a ditch). Nilipomgusa alikuwa amefariki (when I touched her, she was already dead,” he narrates.

He describes his late daughter as a loving girl who always aspired to become a doctor in future. He discloses that Priscilla was always top of her class, her latest performance being position five out of 40.

At Kapkoi Primary School, where the four were pupils, parents gathered to discuss burial arrangements. The head teacher, Asena Simion, termed the accident a tragic loss to the institution and the community.

“This has been the most difficult incident for all of us. We have lost promising Kenyans who had so much to offer to this country,” he said. Pupils at the school had been given an afternoon break following the head teacher’s directive.

The accident occurred on Monday along the Eldoret-Nakuru highway. The driver of the saloon car that killed the four minors is said to have been speeding and lost control. He hit the children who were heading home for lunch. Eldoret Traffic Base Commander Humphrey Abai told The Standard that the driver of the vehicle was arraigned in court on Tuesday.