What began as a journey home after bidding farewell to a loved one ended in unimaginable tragedy for a Homa Bay family, after a husband and wife lost their lives in a devastating road crash along the Rongo–Homa Bay highway.
Benson Oketch and his wife, Christine Ouma, were travelling back to their home in Kochia, Homa Bay County, on Thursday evening after attending the funeral of a relative in neighbouring Migori County. Neither of them knew it would be their final journey together.
Their private double-cab pick-up was involved in a horrific multi-vehicle collision at Winyo along the Rongo–Homa Bay road. Christine died on the spot, while Benson suffered critical injuries and was rushed to hospital. Despite desperate efforts by doctors, he later succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment at Tamary Hospital in Rachuonyo North.
A third occupant of the vehicle, a relative identified as Michele Ouma, survived the crash and is receiving treatment.
Preliminary reports indicate that as many as four vehicles were involved in the fatal accident, turning the busy highway into a scene of destruction and grief.
Benson’s brother, Hezekiah Ouma, who had also attended the funeral, revealed that the two families had been travelling in separate vehicles but were following each other for most of the journey.
According to Dr Ouma, his vehicle developed a puncture along the Ahero–Isebania road, forcing them to stop and repair the tyre while Benson continued with the journey.
Moments later, tragedy struck.
“We received a phone call informing us that my brother’s vehicle had been involved in a serious accident. We rushed to the scene, but by the time we arrived, my sister-in-law’s body had already been taken to the mortuary,” he said.
Witnesses told the family that the crash occurred after an oncoming driver allegedly attempted to overtake a lorry, resulting in a head-on collision with Benson’s vehicle. The impact was so severe that another saloon car reportedly rammed into the pick-up from behind moments later.
The driver believed to have attempted the dangerous overtaking manoeuvre is said to have fled the scene before authorities arrived.
Following the crash, Benson and Michele were initially taken to Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital for emergency treatment. However, the family later transferred them to Tamary Hospital, claiming they were dissatisfied with the medical services at the county facility.
Dr Ouma alleged that no doctor was immediately available when they arrived, prompting the decision to seek treatment elsewhere.
“We found ourselves with no option but to transfer the patients because the doctor was not available,” he claimed.
The management of Homa Bay County Teaching and Referral Hospital has, however, strongly denied allegations of negligence.
Hospital Chief Executive Officer Dr Vincent Oduor said an ambulance was dispatched immediately after the distress call was received and that emergency teams stabilised the injured patients upon arrival.
He explained that the victims received emergency treatment, including X-ray examinations, before further decisions on their care were made.
Dr Oduor acknowledged that the hospital is currently facing challenges due to an ongoing laboratory staff strike, which has affected its ability to conduct some critical tests. Because Benson was likely to require surgery, doctors opted to refer him to a better-equipped facility with fully operational laboratory services.
“The family is grieving and may feel disappointed, but emergency care was provided, and the referral was made in the patient’s best interest,” Dr Oduor said.
The double tragedy has plunged the family into deep mourning, transforming what should have been a safe journey home into a heartbreaking loss. Police have launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding the crash as calls grow for greater caution on Kenyan roads, where dangerous overtaking continues to claim innocent lives.
