Nithi Bridge Crash: Grief, Tears As Families Start Burial Plans For 12 Kin Killed In Accident

• Families are now identifying victims and making burial arrangements following the tragic Nithi Bridge accident that killed 12 members of the Vision Group
• The survivors, currently receiving treatment at PCEA Chogoria Hospital, are in stable condition but are being treated for both minor and major injuries
• The Vision Group, formed just three months ago for visiting members' parents, was devastated by the loss of eight members in their tragic first trip
• Despite their grief, the families of the victims are united in their determination to honour their loved ones with respectful send-offs

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Days after the tragic accident on the Nithi Bridge that claimed 12 lives, families have begun the heartbreaking process of identifying their loved ones and making burial arrangements.

The victims were part of a group of 20 women, known as the Vision Group, who had visited a friend in Meru. Their journey back ended in disaster, leaving a trail of grief and sorrow.

Family members flocked to the Chuka County Referral Hospital morgue to identify the bodies and arrange for their transfer to facilities closer to their homes.

Meanwhile, the survivors of the crash, who were in a Toyota Hilux, are receiving treatment at PCEA Chogoria Hospital, where they are reported to be in stable condition.

"We've stabilised them. The survivors have both minor and major injuries, which we are attending to medically, surgically, and psychologically," said Ann Mburu, Deputy Chief Medical Officer at PCEA Chogoria Hospital.

As the families grapple with the sudden loss, they have shared painful accounts of the accident and are now faced with the daunting task of planning life without their loved ones.

Despite the overwhelming grief, the families are determined to come together to give their departed kin befitting send-offs.

What is Vision Group?

The victims were members of the Vision Group, an association formed just three months ago with the purpose of visiting the parents of its members.

The ill-fated trip was the group’s first, and the tragic loss of eight members has left the team devastated.

"This was a group for parental visits. We felt, as friends, it was good for us to also get to know each other's parents and homes, just to connect. This was the first visit, sadly. And of course, everyone had already been told their month for the visit, and everyone was so excited about it," said Emily Nzasu, a member of the group.

The accident has cast a long shadow over the Vision Group's aspirations, with the death of their members being a profound loss.

Modern Coast Nithi tragedy

The Nithi Bridge on the Meru-Nairobi highway has long been a dangerous stretch, notorious for claiming lives due to its steep descent and sharp turns.

This latest accident brings back chilling memories of the Modern Coast bus tragedy at the same black spot.

In July 2022, 34 lives were lost after a Mombasa-bound bus plunged 40 meters into the Nithi River.

The National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) suspended the operations of all Modern Coast buses after the accident.

Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura Guthua, journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke