A sombre mood has descended on Kamirithu village in Limuru, Kiambu County, following the tragic deaths of seven family members in a road accident on the Naivasha-Mai Mahiu Road on Sunday.

The family, including three brothers and four children, was returning to Eburru, Naivasha, after attending the memorial service for their cousin, a cleric in Longonot who had passed away the previous week.

Tragically, their journey took a devastating turn when their vehicle collided head-on with an oncoming lorry near High Peak Schools.

The brothers—Francis Muturi, Peter Mwangi, and George Ngugi—died at the scene, while Muturi’s children, Fidelis Waithira, 14, Catherine Wanjiku, 12, and Victeric Kirubi, 8, along with the son of an employee, were declared dead on arrival at Naivasha Sub-County Hospital.

The tragic accident occurred when their vehicle collided head-on with an oncoming lorry near High Peak Schools.

The cleric, whose death had brought the family together, was due to be buried the next day (Monday).

Emotions ran high at the mortuary as relatives and friends gathered, struggling to comprehend the loss of the seven family members and the cleric.

In Kamirithu, friends and villagers spoke in hushed tones, trying to come to terms with the incident that had shaken the community, particularly since Muturi had worked as a butcher in the area for many years.

Francisca Wambui, a class teacher at Rock Academy in Limuru, described the three children as gifted both academically and in extracurricular activities.

“We learned of the incident last night through social media, hoping it was just a bad dream,” Wambui said, sobbing. “This morning, we were faced with the heartbreaking reality. We are lost for words and overwhelmed.”

Thuo Waiganjo, Muturi’s neighbour, said the village was deeply shaken.

“We received a distress call last night with little information. We didn’t sleep until the news was confirmed this morning,” Waiganjo said. “We just stared at each other, lost for words, until friends arrived and broke the silence.”

A family source told The Standard that Muturi’s wife fell ill the following morning and was hospitalised before returning home, where she mostly slept.

Peter Mungai, a long-time friend of Muturi, described him as a successful businessman who had employed many of his friends.

“We are overwhelmed by this loss. What pains us most is that Muturi has lost everything he held dear—his wife and three children. It is truly heartbreaking,” Mungai said.

Hellsgate Member of County Assembly (MCA) Virginia Wamaitha, and a close friend of the family, while condoling with family regretted the unfortunate incident. She said efforts by people at the scene of the accident to save them, all seven in the family car perished.

Naivasha OCPD Antony Keter confirmed the incident, stating that initial investigations revealed the driver of the Land Cruiser was overtaking when the crash occurred.

He added that three adults died at the scene, while the minors were rushed to the hospital but were declared dead on arrival.

“The two occupants of the trailer were unharmed. The bodies have been taken to Naivasha morgue for post-mortem, and the wreckage has been towed to Naivasha Police Station,” Keter said.

In his statement, Keter called on all drivers to exercise extreme caution, highlighting that speeding and reckless overtaking were the leading causes of accidents in the area. His message underscored the ever-present danger on the roads, urging vigilance to prevent further tragedies.