Five Kenyans die in SA car accident

By ERIC WAINAINA newsdesk@ke.nationmedia.comPosted Thursday, December 30 2010 at 22:30

A family is in mourning after losing five members in a road accident in South Africa on Christmas Day.

Sisters Phyllis Wanjiku, 40, and Agnes Muthoni, 36, and their children Rodgers William, 7, Kamau Phyllis, 2, (Wanjiku’s children), and Muthoni’s daughter, Joy Wambui, 4, died on the Oliver Tambo-Johannesburg Road.

The parents of the two sisters, Mr William Kimani and Mrs Monica Kimani of Miguta, Githunguri in Kiambu County, are yet to come to terms with the death of their daughters and grandchildren.

Mr Kimani heard the news from a family friend who lives at Kinoo, three days after it happened, since his son Duncan Kahuro, who lives in South Africa, was overcome with grief.

Mr Kimani said his daughters were going to pick up their brother’s wife to celebrate the holiday together. The cerebration was never to be.

The vehicle, being driven by Muthoni’s driver, hit an electricity pole and rolled. The driver survived with serious injuries.

Mrs Kimani said she had also spoken with her daughter, Muthoni, who promised that she would visit her next month.

“I have lost my two daughters and three grandchildren at once but I leave all to God,” she said.

A devastated Monica Wanjiru, 17, (Muthoni’s elder daughter) who lives in Kenya, said:

“We talked over the phone that morning and she told me she will come in January and take me to South Africa for my studies.”

Mr David Mbugua, Mr Kimani’s brother, said bringing the bodies home will cost about Sh1.36 million.

“We do not have the money and we can not ever set the burial date,” he said.

He added that the Kenyan ambassador to South Africa was assisting in the process.