Mai Mahiu: Woman Working In Saudi Arabia Flies Back Home To Bury Her 2 Kids Killed In Tragedy

• A Kenyan woman working in Saudi Arabia has flown back home to lay her children to rest after they were tragically swept away in the Mai Mahiu flood disaster
• Grace, the bereaved mother, arrived on May 7, 2024, following the devastating news of her children's demise following the tragedy
• The flood, which struck in the early hours of a Sunday, left a trail of destruction, engulfing the family's home and other villagers

In the wake of the devastating flood tragedy that befell Mai Mahiu, a Kenyan woman working in Saudi Arabia returned home to lay her children and other family members to rest.

Why has Grace returned from Saudi Arabia?

Grace, the grieving mother, arrived in Kenya on May 7, 2024, following the heartbreaking news of the loss of her loved ones in the catastrophe event.

The flood, which occurred on Monday, April 29, swept away their home, claiming the lives of Grace's two children, identified as Kimani and Muthoni.

According to a Facebook post by Reverend Mercy Nungari, Kimani and Muthoni will be buried at her husband, Gachombe's home in Kinang'op.

The tragedy also took the lives of six other members of her family.

"It was Sunday at 3am when the tragedy happened. I arrived there to find their home had been taken away by floods," a relative recounted.

Grace's mother hospitalised

"Initially, we thought all the 11 people who were in the house had died, but we later found 4 alive, including Grace's mum, who is currently in the hospital," added the relative.

According to the relative, Grace's children were missing, but they later found their remains among others.

Grace's mother, Mary Muthoni Mwangi, who miraculously survived, remains hospitalised at Naivasha Level IV hospital, grappling with the loss of eight family members.

Muthoni, who survived along with one daughter, recounted the horrifying moments when flash floods demolished their home in Ruiru village.

She described how the rushing waters swept away her family members downstream, leaving a trail of destruction and despair.

Grace's family had met to fundraise

According to Muthoni, 10 of her family members had gathered at her house to fundraise for her son, who is incarcerated at Naivasha GK prison.

She further detailed that at 3am, during her routine prayer session, fierce flash floods that followed a grumbling sound knocked off her house and, in seconds, flashed everyone out.

Creating confusion, children cried for help as the waters mixed with stones and tree twigs washed them downstream.

“Please save me; the children wailed for help, but all efforts to do so failed,” she recounted the ordeal.

Muthoni, who is recuperating from injuries and trauma, said she survived the horrific incident after she was blocked by tree branches a few metres from her house.

“My family had decided to stay together after the meeting ended late that night, unaware of the danger that lurked in the darkness. Why did it have to occur that day?” a tearful Muthoni wondered.

Man runs through flooded river

Earlier, a video capturing a man sprinting through a flooded river that had washed away a vehicle on Sunday, May 5, garnered attention and excitement among online users.

The rapid water flow did not hinder the man's progress, as he successfully traversed through and safely reached the opposite end.

His daring act came after a failed crossing attempt by a driver whose vehicle was overwhelmed by floodwaters and swept into the river.

What more to know about the floods in Kenya

• The driver of a pickup in Baringo escaped the jaws of death after he attempted to cross a flooded river.
• The death toll from floods continued to rise after the government announced that 228 people had died, while 72 others were still missing as of Sunday, May 5.
• Kisumu-Nairobi Highway became impassable after River Nyando burst its banks on Sunday, May 5.

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke