Gatundu villagers mourn family wiped out in Naivasha–Nakuru crash
Grief has engulfed a family in Ndundu village, Gatundu South in Kiambu County after a tragic road accident claimed the lives of four family members among them a man, his wife and their two young children along the Naivasha–Nakuru highway.
The four are among at least 31 killed on Kenyan roads since beginning of this year. The 31 reported deaths is just a conservative figure assessed by The Informer Weekly.
James Njoroge Kabari, a catechist at St Mary Catholic Church in Ridgeways, died alongside his wife Teresiah Wanjiru and their sons Michael Kabari, aged six, and one-year-old John Mark Kabui in the accident that occurred on January 5, 2026, at the Karai area while they were travelling towards Gilgil.
“Njoroge was taking his wife back to Gilgil where she works as a primary school teacher when the accident happened,” said Jane Wairimu, his distraught mother, describing the incident as a journey that turned into a nightmare for the family.
Their daughter, Clare Wairimu, who was also in the vehicle, survived the crash with injuries and is currently receiving treatment at Nairobi West Hospital’s Naivasha branch.
“We thank God that she is alive, but she is in pain and still under close medical care,” added Wairimu.
She survived alongside the family’s house manager and a friend who were also travelling with them.
At the family’s rural home in Ndundu village, a somber mood prevails as relatives, neighbours and friends struggle to come to terms with the devastating loss.
The deaths have left a deep void, particularly for Njoroge’s elderly parents, who depended heavily on him for their daily needs.
“This is something we never imagined would happen to our family. We are still in shock,” mused Joel Kabari who is Njoroge’s father.
The tragedy has been especially painful for Kabari who is ailing and relied on his son for hospital support and basic necessities.
The grieving father added that the deceased son was the main breadwinner and took care of his parents’ medical bills and ensured they lacked nothing.
“Njoroge had plans to renovate his parents’ house this January as he expanded his own home, but all those plans ended abruptly,” stated Kabari.
As burial preparations begin, the family said the loss has left them emotionally and financially strained and called on well-wishers to help them during the difficult moments.
Major fatal accidents reported since January 1, 2026 to date:
- Londiani-Muhoroni Road (January 6, 2026): Six people died and several others were injured when a bus belonging to Uwezo Company rammed into a trailer at Tunnel Area along Londiani Road.
- Nairobi-Mombasa Highway (January 2, 2026): A collision between a matatu and a bus killed 8 people and injured 9 others.
- Gilgil-Nakuru Highway (January 3, 2026): 6 people died after a matatu was hit from behind by a truck and pushed into another vehicle at Kikopey.
- Nakuru-Eldoret Highway (January 1, 2026): 2 people were killed when a container dislodged from a trailer and crushed a Toyota Voxy near Burnt Forest.
Preliminary analysis by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) and police attribute the majority of these crashes to preventable poor road condition and human error, specifically speeding and reckless driving, dangerous overtaking and lane indiscipline, driver fatigue and driving under the influence and traffic violations by boda boda riders among others.
