One of the saddest moments in Kenya’s history was when a number of young students lost their lives while on their way to an all-white event.
Barely ten years ago, students from Kenyatta University, accompanied by another student, travelled all the way from Nairobi to Kisii for an event, but the journey ended tragically before they reached their destination.
Today, the incident is remembered as one of the most horrific moments in Kenya’s history. Times Digital Kenya unfolds how what was meant to be a weekend party turned tragic within a few seconds.
Trip to Kisii
On July 1, 2016, five students from Kenyatta University’s main campus in Nairobi and their friend from Dedan Kimathi University in Nyeri set off to attend a graduation party scheduled to take place in Magena Village, Kisii.
Of the five students from Kenyatta University, two were sisters. According to their mother, they were supposed to attend a burial event with her, but she allowed them to make the trip to Kisii for the all-white party—a decision she would later regret.
The students travelled in a private car, a Toyota Noah, which had a capacity of eight people, including the owner. Some of their friends, including their host, were travelling in a different car that was ahead of them.
From Nairobi, the owner of the Toyota Noah was initially behind the steering wheel before handing it over to one of the students, Duncan Nyanaro, a Civil Engineering student at Dedan Kimathi University. Nyanaro drove the car for about 30 kilometres to Kisii.
On their way to their destination, the students shared some of their photos on social media, unaware that what lay ahead would be horrific.
Accident
The deadly accident occurred around 8 p.m. on July 1, 2016, when the Toyota Noah collided head-on with an oncoming canter that was heading to Kisii Town.
According to a witness who spoke to The Standard, the Toyota Noah tried to overtake a saloon car before colliding with the canter, with all vehicles reportedly travelling at high speed.
The report indicated that the saloon car did not give way to the car carrying the students, which led to the head-on collision.
In the rescue effort, three of the students remained trapped in the wreckage for almost 30 minutes. It was later discovered that most of them had died from the impact of the accident.
Among those who died instantly were three students from Kenyatta University (KU): Mary Wanjiru Maina, Felany Isoe, and Vinnah Isoe (the latter two were sisters). Mercy Nyambeki, a survivor, was also a student at the university.
Pauline Nyanchama and Dorothy Nyakerario, also students, died on the spot. Joseph Nyabuto, a witness at the time, claimed that the students had consumed alcohol prior to the accident, a claim supported by the presence of several bottles of alcohol found at the scene.
