Lala salama: 7 family members killed in road accident laid to rest
Seven members of a family who died on May 5 after a vehicle they were travelling in overturned and landed in a ditch along the Homa Bay-Kendu Bay road have been laid to rest.
Nairobi News understands that they were buried in Kisumu County over the weekend.
“Burying six members of the same family is difficult. May they all rest in peace (RIP). I will be in Kisumu till Sunday. Tell the mosquitoes not to bite me. Thanks to all who have supported us in any way. Mungu awabariki mpaka mshangae (May God bless you abundantly),” said Christine Muchene, a family member.
On 9 May, friends and relatives of the seven family members set up a GoFund Me ahead of their funerals.
In the GoFund Me, which raised Sh110,000, the family said it was a humble request for the entire Kondeng’ee family, who hail from South East Nyakach in Kisumu County.
The family had planned to raise Sh7 million for the burial and to pay for the hospitalisation of relatives involved in the accident.
“We are appealing to at least give us a shoulder to carry the burden of the hospitalisation of the 24 family members as well as the last rites for seven family members who died in a gruesome road accident on May 5, 2023 along the Kendu Bay-Homa Bay road,” the statement on the GoFund me page reads in full.
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The deceased were identified as Mzee Sospeter Okall Abila, Mzee William Sungu Bhuop, Mzee Joseph Goga Oyoo, Mr Gordon Moto, Mama Mary Abilla aka Nuru, Mrs Elizabeth Akinyi Ojero and Mrs Eunice Oduong.
The seven who died were part of 39 mourners travelling to a funeral when the tragic accident occurred.
31 others were taken to hospital immediately, and 24 remain in critical and serious condition.
The devastating incident has left the family devastated and they are appealing for financial help to cope with the aftermath.
“Losing a loved one is hard enough, let alone an entire generation of clan elders and leaders. The family is grieving on a level we cannot begin to imagine,” they said.
Immediately after the accident, police at Kendu Bay Police Station said the accident occurred at Pala Junction at 11.30 am when the driver lost control of the bus.
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