Relatives of girl who lost parents in Salgaa crash finally traced

LEFT: Five-year-old Angela Watenge is consoled by her aunt Lilian Epulo at Rift Valley General Hospital yesterday. The girl’s father Robert Matanda, who perished in a Sunday accident near Salgaa in Nakuru, was a peace ambassador with Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation. [PHOTOS: KIPSANG JOSEPH/Standard]

A five-year-old survivor who was stranded in a Nakuru hospital after her parents perished in an accident on Sunday was finally traced by relatives yesterday.

A resident who read Anjali Watenge’s predicament in The Standard yesterday contacted the girl’s relatives in Trans Nzoia.

Consequently, her uncle Protus Wanyama and aunt Lilian Epulo travelled to Nakuru where they eventually reunited with the girl.

Angela was rushed to Nakuru Provincial General Hospital by Good Samaritans, but her father Robert Matanda and mother Stella Ebei perished in the crash.

Lucy Gichuri, a nursing officer who spoke to The Standard on Tuesday, said it was difficult to get details of her family.

“The child is approximately five years but, unfortunately, she cannot give more information because of severe injuries,”  Gichuru had said.

During the interview on Tuesday, the minor identified herself as Angela Matende, a pupil at Town View and said that Mercy Chemutai was her elder sister. The minor further said her mother’s name is Stella Ebei and her father’s is Robert Matende with their nearest town being Soko.

The information was handed over to security agents to help in tracing her relatives suspected to be either in Sabaot, Bungoma County or other counties in Western region.

The Rift Valley Provincial Traffic Enforcement Officer Mary Omari, however, said from scanty information offered by the minor, enforcement officers had been able to trace her relatives.

Omari said her department linked up with Kapenguria Base Commandant in West Pokot who through local administrators was able to locate her relatives.

Reformed Rustler

Matanda was a reformed cattle rustler who joined Tegla Loroupe Peace Foundation where he was peace ambassador and chairman of the organisation.

Yesterday, Loroupe said the girl’s father had dedicated his life to tackling cattle rustling and was involved in spearheading peace in Tana River, Kapedo, Nadome and Samburu.

Angela’s parents were among seven others who died after a matatu they were travelling in was hit by a trailer  at Ngata Bridge. The matatu was heading to Eldoret from Nakuru while the trailer was going in the opposite direction.

Deputy Nursing Officer Edward Muhavi said of the seven people who were admitted at the hospital, four had been discharged while three are still undergoing treatment but were in stable condition.

Gichuru thanked The Standard for publishing the plight of the child on Wednesday that helped trace her kin.

“More people have been visiting the hospital seeking to know more about the minor after reading the story,” she said.