By Grace Gilo
A year ago, tragedy struck the Kenyatta University fraternity when 11 bright young souls met their untimely demise in a horrific road accident in Voi.
18 March, 2024 is a day that will forever remain etched in the hearts of Kenya’s number one university, Kenyatta University.
On this fateful day, a group of third year health service management students from the school of public health were on an academic trip to Mombasa when their bus collided with a trailer in Maungu on the Mombasa-Nairobi highway.
The impact so devastating, leaving families shattered and a university community in mourning, what was meant to be a happy educational journey was shortly turned into a heartbreaking loss, one that still weighs heavily in the hearts of many.
On their first anniversary today, our reporter Theo Macharia sits down with some of the survivors of the deadly accident as they reflect on the futures and dreams that were cruelly cut short, the pain of their fellow comrades’ absence and the memories of laughter and love they shared.
“I remember when leaving KU, Neville told me to hurry up or the bus would leave me,” said Phenny Osewe, accident survivor.
One year down the line, messages of love and memories of laughter shared with the 11 young departed scholars remains alive in the hearts of those who knew them more so their classmates.
“I was seated next to Oslo when it started raining, she fell asleep on my laps, from there I don’t know what happened,” mourned Kensley.
“Oslo died while sleeping on my laps. I haven’t recovered from this,” he emotionally added.
“I miss them so much,” expressed Phillip.
“It was in 2022 when Beneas, Austine and I attended an Azimio rally in Jacaranda. We spent the whole day together and this day remains memorable to me,” said Sylvester.
“Austine was so calm and used to call me ‘jaber’ whenever we met in class,” Phenny recalled.
“Hellen was my very close friend and we used to meet a lot outside school,” she added.
Grateful that they survived the accident and reflecting on the memories of love and laughter shared, Sylvester Waudo and Kesley narrate that their lifelong scars and invisible pain will forever stand as a symbol that though gone, their classmates are not forgotten.
“I used to go to the gym and spend upto four hours there. However, after the accident, I suffered a spinal injury hence I cannot do body building or even hard labour,” Sylvester Waudo revealed.
“I have scars on my whole body. People see me with scars and think that I was clobbered after stealing,” Kesley revealed.
Struggling to fight back their tears, Phenny and her classmates say that though they have made positive significant steps psychologically, coming into terms with the loss of their colleagues still proves to be difficult.
Philip further details that it is during this unforgettable trying moment that the unity of their institution was put to test.
“It is so hard to forget them especially because I was the first person to view their bodies in the morgue,” he mourned.
On behalf of their other classmates, the students who spoke to us showered praises and loads of gratitude to their families for standing firmly with them.
Following the tragic occurrence, the health service management students who survived the accident and now in their fourth year awaiting graduation in December, say that since then their perspective of life took a turnaround.
As the sun sets on this solemn day, the memory of the 11 young scholars remains alive in the hearts of those who knew them. They were more than students—they were dreams in motion, hopes for the future, and now, everlasting stars in the sky with the hope that their legacy will soldier on.
May their souls forever rest in eternal peace.