Visit to grandma turns tragic as three die in a road crash

The portrait of from left, Peter Ruto, his wife Margaret and Hillary Ruto. They were killed in a road accident in Ziwa on Saturday. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

A delightful journey to visit his grandmother turned tragic for a 26-year-old General Service Unit (GSU) officer after he and two of his family members died in a road crash.

Hillary Ruto, his father Peter Ruto and his mother Margaret died in the accident on Ziwa-Moi’s Bridge road in Uasin Gishu on Saturday afternoon.

The 26-year-old GSU officer who is a father of one had arrived at their Chebarus village in Moiben constituency on Friday from his work station in Marsabit.

At 11am on Saturday, he took his wife Sharon Maiserian, 22, for a 15km road trip in his vehicle to meet his grandmother in Moi’s Bridge.

He was the driver of the Pajero and next to him on the trip was his father Peter. In the back were his wife and mother.

The family did not reach the grandmother’s house where they expected to have a discussion about Hillary and Sharon’s engagement.

The ceremony was to take place at the end of January or early February. But this was cut short after their vehicle rolled several times near Ziwa town.

Relatives of the late Peter Ruto, his wife Margaret Ruro and Hillary Ruto (son) at Chebarus village in Uasin Gushu County. [Peter Ochieng, Standard]

According to Soy sub-county police commander Fanuel Nasio, the cause of the 1pm accident is yet to be established.

“The vehicle rolled many times and the driver who is the GSU officer died on the spot while his mother and father died while receiving treatment at Ziwa and Moi Teaching and Referral hospitals respectively,” Nasio told The Standard.

He said the officer's widow is still admitted at the MTRH in Eldoret.

The vehicle was towed to Ziwa police station for investigations.

Yesterday, at the home of the deceased family members in Chebarus, relatives were in grief and mourning as they planned for the burial expected to take place next week.

Hillary’s uncle Elkanah Ruto described the young police officer as a hard-working man who had great plans for his family.

The portrait of Sharon Naisarian, the widow of GSU officer killed in an accident in Moi's Bridge on Saturday. [Peter Ochieng, Standard].

Elkanah recalled how the family was hopeful of meeting their grandmother after months of being away.

“It is too painful for our family. We have never witnessed a tragedy of this magnitude before. All of us were looking forward to their joyful engagement ceremony. When he arrived from work, he promised that he would meet for a discussion. Unfortunately, he didn’t return to tell me what he wanted us to talk about,” he said.

Elkanah went on to say his nephew joined the police service three years ago and had requested a week off to visit his wife and other relatives before going back to Marsabit.

He said they got alarmed after the grandmother who was eagerly waiting to host the family called to ask why her visitors were taking too long to arrive.

“We expected to bury all of them the same day. The family is struggling with a Sh500,000 hospital bill.”

Family elder Sabestian Saerei said the cause of the crush is still puzzling.

Saerei said Hillary was the only one with a job among his five siblings.

“It is our prayer that the widow survives the serious injuries. The family is yet to come to terms with the loss,” he said.