A somber mood has engulfed Kopudo village in Kabonyo –Kanyagwal ward, Nyando Sub-County, Kisumu County, as three family members perished in Saturday Road accident at Awasi market, along the Kisumu–Kericho Highway.
The accident involving a motorcycle and a truck claimed the lives of a woman and her young baby and a grade 9 girl, who were travelling home from another funeral in Songor village in Muhoroni Sub-County.
Family members and relatives gathered at the home of Florence Adhiambo as they recounted the last moments, they shared with their loved ones whose lives were tragically cut short after attending a burial ceremony.
Adhiambo, who lost her daughter Croscent Akwino, 17, daughter in law, Chrstine Atieno Owino, 23, and a 5-months old grandson, in the accident, says the family is still in shock and devastated by the loss.
“I am yet to come to terms with the tragic loss. It is hurting losing three people at a go from a single household. I don’t know how I will overcome the loss,” Adhiambo said in trembling voice during an interview with Kenya News Agency at her home in Kopudo village.
At the Chemelil road junction in Awasi market, a motorcycle carrying five people was struck by a truck that swerved to avoid a crash.
Police report indicated that Akwino died on the spot while the mother was pronounced dead upon arrival at Awasi Catholic Mission Health Centre where she was rushed by well-wishers.
Another 1-year-old child and the rider who is also related to the family escaped with injuries from the crash.
The remains were taken to Othoo Funeral Home in Nyando for preservation and postmortem examination.
Police investigations are ongoing.
Florence Adhiambo, a widow recalled when her daughter, daughter in law together with her two grandsons, left the burial in Songor at around 2.30pm on Saturday. She expected a call announcing they had arrived home safely.
Unfortunately, fate took a cruel twist. That call never came. Instead, Adhiambo received the devastating news thirty minutes later.
For her son, Rolex Owino, coming to terms with the demise of her beloved wife, sister and child who perished in the horrific accident remains a painful reality.
The father of two said that his one-year-old son miraculously came out of the crash alive, despite sustaining injuries to his head, arm and leg.
“All my two sons would have died in the accident. It is only the hand of God that my first born was rescued from under the truck alive. However, with his injuries, he still needs medical checkup,” Owino said, sobbing.
Owino described his late wife, whom he had been married to for three years, as a jovial, hardworking woman and a treasured companion whose place, he said, could never be filled.
His deceased sister, Akwino was a grade nine pupil at the nearby Nyomwaro Primary School and was preparing to sit her examinations in October.
As the family mourns the three relatives, they have appealed to well-wishers for emotional and financial support to help give the departed a dignified send-off.
“Right now, I have a heavy burden on my head after losing my wife, child and sister. I have to make arrangements for all three of them to be laid to rest. Any assistance to help accord them a respectable send-off would help alleviate the grief in this family,” Owino appealed.
by Robert Ojwang’
