Five people perished in a road accident at Mahiga along the Nyahururu-Nyeri highway on Saturday February 3, evening after attending a prayer meeting in Nyeri.

According to the police report, 9 other people were seriously injured during the accident.

Those who died on spot included the driver and women from St. Peters Gaitega, of the Catholic Diocese of Murang’a, who were returning home after attending a national prayer meeting at the Subukia’s Marian Shrine.

The prayer event that took place on Friday and Saturday brought together thousands of women belonging to the Catholic Women Association (CWA).

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Survivors of the accident were admitted to Nyahururu County and Referral Hospital for treatment.

At the same time, bodies of the deceased were taken to the Nyahururu County Hospital Mortuary.

Those who sustained minor injuries during the accident were rushed to different hospitals in Nyeri County.

According to eyewitnesses, the 14-seater matatu was trying to avoid a head-on collision with a trailer that was coming from the opposite direction, when the accident occurred. 

Lucy Wanjiku, a survivor, revealed that the trailer appeared to have lost control, as it rammed on the matatu that they had hired. 

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A similar incident happened on November 24, 2023, when 8 people perished in floods after attending First lady Mama Rachel Ruto’s Joyful Women Initiative at Kasarani stadium.

The eight people were on their way home from Nairobi when they were swept away by flooded River Muuoni in Mutyambua location, Makueni County.