Hundreds of mourners, among them teachers, residents, and leaders from across the region, gathered at Matete Stadium on Friday for the requiem mass of seven among the people killed in a road accident at Kondoo in Timboroa, along the Eldoret-Nakuru Highway.
The victims were four teachers, two businesswomen, and a young girl who will be remembered for their contribution to their families, the education sector, and the wider Lugari community.
They were teachers Sarah Ombacho, the head of institution at Lumani Primary School; Janet Watai, the head of Chamavele Comprehensive School; Christine Mecha, a biology and chemistry teacher at St. Mukasa B Senior School, and her husband, Solomon Otimo of Maturu Senior School, both from Lwandeti; Mary Mwikali Mayama, popularly known as Mama Memba, a prominent Matete businesswoman; businesswoman Harriet Wekesa; and Angel Carmelita, a pupil at Kivaywa Comprehensive School and daughter of the late Ombacho.
The group was travelling to Nairobi for a wedding on Saturday, October 31, 2026, when the North Rift Shuttle matatu they were aboard collided head-on with a lorry carrying ballast. The crash also claimed the life of the matatu driver and left at least nine people injured.
Lugari MP Nabii Nabwera, who presided over the ceremony, termed the loss a painful blow to the community. He said the deceased were productive members of society whose contributions would be sorely missed.
Also present were President William Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet, Kakamega Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda, Likuyani MP Innocent Mugabe, and other political and community leaders.
