Four Molo accident family victims laid to rest

By Alex Kiprotich and Vincent Mabatuk

NAKURU, KENYA: “For we were created from soil and so shall return to the soil, ash to ash as the scriptures decree,” intoned the religious leader after saying the final prayer as family members dropped clods of soil into the four graves reluctantly.

This symbolised farewell to the departed family members — a mother, a daughter, son and nephew — whose lives were cut short by a tragic road accident a day into the New Year.

Throngs of mourners stood in silence, each lost in thought and anger. The life of almost an entire family wiped out by yet another road accident. Nancy Chepkemoi, 37, her two children Faith Chepkoech, 8, Victor Kimutai, 2, and nephew Collins Kiprotich, 8, died on January 2.

The cruel hand of death came visiting a day after the four celebrated crossing over to the new year; it could not allow them a day more of 2013.

Somber mood

And on Sunday during their burial at their family home at Kapkures in Nakuru County, as eight men stepped forward with spades, solemnly thrusting mounds of soil into the graves, the heavy, thudding sounds only seemed to accentuate the sorrow of those who came to bid farewell.

Some mourners fainted, others just stood and let warm, comforting tears roll down their cheeks, while others closed their eyes, perhaps to say a prayer for the departed souls.

Theirs were tears shed not just for the loss of four family members, but also for the country. Each day has brought with it news of road accidents from one corner of the nation to the other despite the stringent traffic laws that took effect last December.

Many people had thought the laws would curb accidents, but they have not.

Two weeks into the New Year, there have been close to 100 traffic-related deaths. Kenyans have been bewildered, they have been angered and travelling in public service vehicles has become nightmarish.

So as friends and family stood in anguish to bury the four, the question in the minds of many was: How many more will have to die before these deaths are put to a stop?

“For how long are we going to lose our people? Our family has almost been wiped out, we are very saddened,” said Samson Mengich, a family member.

Mr Mengich said the family has agonised over the deaths and believe had it not been for the greed of some people, their family would still be intact.

“It was an accident that we believe could have been avoided,” he said.

Nakuru Mayor Mohammed Suraw summed up the anguish Kenyans are going through as our roads claim lives daily.

“Please do not continue killing our people, have mercy on the bubbling lives you snuff out everyday,” Mr Suraw said as he addressed hundreds of mourners attending the burial.

Mayor Suraw called on the Inspector General of police to be tough on police officers not implementing traffic rules.

“We are calling on you David Kimaiyo, the country is looking up to you to put a stop to the increasing traffic related deaths,” he said.

Memories

Kennedy Chumo, Chepkemoi’s husband narrated his last moments with his family.

Chumo, who is a chaplain at King’ong’o Prison in Nyeri, said he celebrated Christmas with his family in Nyeri and left with them on December 27 for Nakuru to visit his mother-in-law.

His mother, Rhoda Chumo, described the incident as the most shocking in her life.

“I feel for my children who have lost their entire families at a very early age,” said the mother. The family of Chumo now joins a list of families mourning the loss of loved ones through road carnage across the country.