Four siblings, one grave: Kwale father's grief after Mtito Andei crash

Apostle Spencer Mdave laid his three daughters and son to rest in a single grave at a quiet compound in Kinango, Kwale County. The four siblings, Salem, Sharon, Sarah, and Shekinah, were among 24 people who died when the bus they were travelling in collided head-on with a heavy cargo truck at Kanga, near Mtito Andei. The vehicle was carrying more than 50 passengers, a close-knit delegation of relatives, church members and more than a dozen pastors returning to Mombasa after attending the burial of a fellow bishop in Lugari, Kakamega County.

The four siblings had carved out impressive career and educational paths. The eldest, Salem, held a degree in Business Management, Sharon was a civil engineer, Sarah a land surveyor, and Shekinah was on the verge of completing her university studies in Geoinformatics at the Technical University of Kenya. A delegation from the university, led by Dean of Students Maurice Ochieng, lecturers and student leaders, travelled to Kinango to pay homage to Shekinah, describing her as an exceptional scholar who excelled in her academics and offered leadership.

Classmates and former schoolmates of the deceased siblings shared moving recollections of their childhood and school days. Margaret Wairimu, Shekinah's class representative, described her as a bright student who always topped her units. Joseph Mgala, who studied with Sarah at Kinango Secondary School, described her as an extraordinarily dedicated learner who loved studying even during break time. Penina Mkambe, a former classmate of Sharon at Kwale Girls High School, expressed the collective disbelief of her alumni network, mourning the loss of a bright and cheerful soul.

The family's eulogy offered a heartbreaking account of Apostle Mdave's desperate efforts to save his children in the immediate aftermath of the crash. The eulogy captured a father's desperate prayers amid the wreckage, praying fervently over his dying children. The family mourned the unfulfilled potential of Shekinah, the youngest, who never got to see her father at the scene of the accident, yet he carried the pain of knowing she was gone.

Addressing the congregation, Apostle Mdave expressed gratitude to neighbours, church members and leaders who supported the family during the darkest days of their lives. Local political leaders, led by Kwale Deputy Governor Chirema Kombo, commended Cabinet secretaries and regional leaders for assisting the bereaved families financially. However, angry mourners at the service pointed to persistent reckless driving and dangerous overtaking along the busy Mombasa–Nairobi transport corridor, urging national transport authorities to enforce strict road safety measures.

The burial in Kinango coincided with wider regional preparations led by Coast religious leaders to hold a joint interfaith requiem service honouring all 24 victims of the highway crash. At the ACK Mombasa Memorial Cathedral, Bishop Alphonse Baya led a separate requiem Mass for four other victims from a single family who perished in the same collision. The four are set to be laid to rest in Mikomani village, Rabai Sub-County.

The grief and loss have brought the community together, with many offering condolences to the Mdave family. The incident has also raised concerns about road safety, with calls for stricter measures to prevent further accidents. The families of the victims are set to receive financial assistance from the government and other stakeholders.

Key points

• Apostle Spencer Mdave lost four of his eight children in the Mtito Andei crash.
• The four siblings were among 24 people who died in the bus crash on the Mombasa–Nairobi highway.
• The Technical University of Kenya paid homage to Shekinah Mdave, describing her as an exceptional scholar.