Emotions ran deep during the burial of six family members from Limuru in Kiambu County, who perished in a road accident 10 days ago.

Various leaders among them road safety officials who spoke during the funeral service expressed concern over rising cases of road carnage and asked the government to move with speed and curb the menace. 

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who addressed the mourners through a phone call said he skipped the burial after he learnt of a planned attack on him. 

The deceased were businessman Francis Muturi who was driving the ill-fated Toyota Prado, and his three young children Fidelis Waithera, Cathy Wanjiru and Vitalic Muturi. Also dead were Muturi’s two brothers Peter Mwangi, George Ngugi and the family maid’s young child who will be buried later. 

Cash donation 

They were laid to rest at the family land in Embul Bul village in Gilgil sub-county, Nakuru County in an emotional sendoff attended by area MP Martha Wangari, her colleagues Jane Kihara (Naivasha), Peter Kiragu (Limuru) and Liz Chelule (Nakuru Woman Rep). 

Gachagua termed the deaths as a huge blow not only to the family but also to the country and pledged a cash donation of Sh200,000 in support of the family. 

Road safety officials Edward Gitonga and David Kiarie who attended the burial asked the government to declare the runaway road carnage a national disaster. 

Gitonga of Speed Governors and Road Safety Association at the same time called for the dualling of the Rironi – Mau Summit road to reduce the death toll along the stretch. 

“This road was okayed by former President Uhuru Kenyatta for dualling in 2018 but seven years down nothing has happened while our people continue to die daily,” Gitonga lamented. 

Gitonga also called for the removal of lazy National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) officials who he blamed for the unabated deaths.