- Mary Akinyi failed to return home from work, prompting concern among her family following a devastating incident that occurred along her usual route
- Her relatives and a social media creator launched an urgent public appeal to trace her whereabouts, fearing she was among the victims
- The social media creator confirmed her discovery at Kenyatta National Hospital with an emotional post
Nancy Odindo, a TUKO.co.ke journalist, has over four years of experience covering Kenyan politics, news, and features for digital and print media.
Nairobi: A tragic evening unfolded for a family in Kawangware after a devoted mother and hardworking woman failed to return home from work.
Source: Facebook
Her children and relatives anxiously awaited her arrival following the devastating accident that had happened involving a Latema Sacco vehicle on Tuesday, October 7.
The bus, carrying at least 30 passengers, had plunged into the Nairobi River in the Waruku area, sparking panic and uncertainty among families whose loved ones were on board.
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Where was Mary Akinyi working?
Mary, known for her daily commute along the Kawangware 56 route to her day job in Kileleshwa, was among those feared to be trapped in the bus.
As hours passed without any communication from her, concern grew. Her family launched a frantic search, reaching out to hospitals and morgues in hopes of finding her.
Social media creator and writer, Nandwa Isaac, joined the effort, posting an emotional appeal online to help trace her whereabouts.
Nandwa described her daily route and said that she usually took one of the buses from the Latema Sacco, amidst growing concerns that she was involved in the accident.
“Family and friends of Mary Akinyi are worried about her whereabouts,” Nandwa wrote. “She goes to work in the morning and returns in the evening, but yesterday, she didn’t show up. Her kids are worried, and one of her cousins has reached to ask which hospital (injuries) or morgue (fatalities) they were taken to waende waone.”
When did Mary Akinyi die?
Just two hours after the public plea, Nandwa confirmed the heartbreaking news: Akinyi was found dead and had been suspected to be among the passengers of the ill-fated vehicle.
“Update: Mary Akinyi, the lady who went to work yesterday but never returned home and was suspected to be among the Gatina passengers, has finally been found at the Kenyatta Mortuary. She didn’t make it out of that accident. May the Almighty God comfort the family.”
The confirmation brought a wave of grief to her family and community.
How many people died in Waruku crash?
Meanwhile, a day after the incident, KNH confirmed that it had received victims of the Waruku crash, who were admitted to various wings of the facility.
Source: Facebook
The tragic accident claimed the lives of at least four people and left 30 others with injuries of varying severity.
According to eyewitness accounts, the Latema Sacco bus was negotiating a slope when its brakes failed midway, causing the driver to lose control.
Ahead of the bus was a school vehicle, whose driver, upon noticing the imminent danger, managed to stop at a safe distance.
The out-of-control bus eventually veered off course and plunged into the Nairobi River.
Proofreading by Asher Omondi, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
