A joint funeral service was underway for six members of a family who perished in a tragic road accident along the Naivasha–Mai Mahiu road on March 30.
The bodies were moved from the Naivasha Hospital Mortuary for a mass held in the Ebul Bul area of Naivasha, Nakuru County.
The victims were laid to rest on April 8.
Several senior government officials, including Members of Parliament, attended the funeral service.
Among them are MPs John Kiragu (Limuru), Martha Wangari (Gilgil), Jane Kihara (Naivasha), and Nakuru Woman Representative Liza Chelule, among others.
The family was left devastated after the tragic road accident claimed seven lives, including three brothers and three children belonging to one of the deceased brothers.
The thing that really shocked me and should worry Kenyans is the ex-DP Gachagua using this horrific pain to families and the community as a campaign gimmick for himself by offering a speech on the speakers to the grieved family members and their supporters.
There has to be a limit to stupidity under certain conditions like using this horror for personal political sympathy. It is the families of those being buried on this sad day who need the sympathy of Kenyans and not Rigathi Gachagua for his political wars to nowhere.
Gachagua should have simply sent whatever contribution to the families very privately and even send someone to deliver that and also send his sympathies to the families. Please don’t use dead children in terrible road accidents as political gimmicks.
Those families need peace in their lives now and not politicians dancing over the bodies of their dead children. Stop it if you don’t mind, Mr. Gachagua. Please.
In the news what Kenyans saw was former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua on Tuesday making a telephone call by loudspeaker to condole with a family that lost six members in a tragic road crash along the Naivasha–Mai Mahiu road.
Gachagua, who also pledged to donate Sh200,000 to support the bereaved family, said he was unable to attend the funeral in person due to fears of being attacked by hired goons.
“I understand the pain the family is going through, especially with the burden of school fees for the children left behind. I will send Jane Kihara with Sh200,000 to assist,” Gachagua said.
Speaking to mourners via Naivasha MP Jane Kihara’s phone during the funeral service, Gachagua reiterated his commitment to standing up for Kenyans, despite what he termed as growing intimidation.
“I would have wanted to attend the funeral, but as you know, there are people making it difficult for us to move around. We leave everything to God,” he said in Kiswahili before switching to Kikuyu.
“We have a big problem—goons are being sent to attack us even in churches.”
A joint funeral service for the six family members was held on April 8, following the fatal crash that claimed seven lives.
The bodies were moved from the Naivasha Hospital Mortuary on Tuesday for a mass in the Ebul Bul area of Naivasha, Nakuru County, before being laid to rest.
Several senior government officials, including MPs John Kiragu (Limuru), Martha Wangari (Gilgil), Jane Kihara (Naivasha), and Nakuru Woman Representative Liza Chelule, attended the service.
The devastating accident occurred near High Peak along the Mai Mahiu–Naivasha road, as the family was returning from a relative’s funeral.
Among the victims were three brothers, three children belonging to one of the brothers, and the son of their household worker.
The government had pledged full support, covering all mortuary and funeral expenses, as the family shared the emotional and financial toll of laying their loved ones to rest.
Adongo Ogony is a Kenyan Human Rights Activist and a Writer who lives in Toronto, Canada
