Dressed in navy and black with light blue ribbons, the family sat quietly as a Christian hymn played in the background at Kirikiania Secondary School in Nyota ward, Kuresoi North sub-county.

One by one, brown coffins with gold handles were carried from the hearses to the altar. On each was a bouquet of purple and white roses, arranged with other flowers and tied with a white ribbon.

The hearses of each member of Shadrach Mbao's nuclear family were shown to him, and he wept uncontrollably. He sat in a wheelchair with a blue cast on his right hand, which was wrapped in a white bandage, while the other held a white cloth to dry his tears.

Governor Susan Kihika condoles with Shadrach Mbao, who lost his nuclear family at the Salam accident, along the Nairobi-Mombasa highway on April 1, 2024.

Photo credit: Leleti Jassor/Mtaa Wangu

His wife, Irene Wanjugu Mbao, and his children, Remmy Macharia Mbao, Joyce Wairimu Mbao and Joyce Muthoni Mbao, were placed at the altar in order from oldest to youngest. They followed Reverend Francis Mwangi from the left side of the altar to the right, where Esther Nyambura Waciuri and Esther Wanjiru Macharia lay.

Under the white dome-shaped tent, mourners sat and wept quietly, while curious crowds gathered at the sides in preparation for the service.

Christian hymns were sung, and poems and songs were performed by various groups to celebrate the lives of those taken too soon. One by one, members of the political class joined the mourners, chairs being added one by one to make room for them.

Tributes were read by family members in groups, one after the other, in an overwhelming tribute to the seven, as both the mourners and the family, who were deeply distraught, were assisted by members of the Red Cross team, who stood behind them in red reflective vests.

Friends and family at the burial of seven family members who perished in a road accident along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway.

Photo credit: Leleti Jassor/Mtaa Wangu

Mr Mbao's tribute was read by his sister, Miriam Njeri Macharia.

"Indeed, death is so sudden and painful, it's as if the death of my wife on April 1 made me realise the brevity of life. She brought out the thin line between life and death. We often take life for granted, too much so, her death made me sit down and reflect. It made me put things into perspective. I am still in shock. Irene and I lived as husband and wife for 14 years and throughout that time she was a pillar of support, she was my sister, my companion, my partner and wife and the mother of my children".

"Having you in my life was the best dream come true and since you left this world together with our children, words cannot describe the emptiness inside me. I'm so lost without you and the children, but I'm sure you're with the Lord, you're with the angels singing and praising the Almighty whom you served with all your heart while on earth," it read.

"You can no longer be seen by the human eye, but your soul and the love you gave to so many will never die. I wish I could tell myself that one day you'll come back and be with me again, I guess that's the way life is, God's will must be accepted. I miss a million things, every detail of the way we were. I miss your mind, your body and your soul. I still say I am a lucky man to have been given the gift of you. There are many things I feel I should have done for you, please forgive me if I never did. Rest in peace and good night to my wife and darling Irene, my son Remmy, daughter Joyce and Joyce 'kadogo'".

Governor Susan Kihika, family and friends at the burial of seven family members who perished in a road accident along the Mombasa-Nairobi highway.

Photo credit: Leleti Jassor/Mtaa Wangu

At around 4pm, mourners and family members moved from the school to the family home a few metres away, where the seven were laid to rest.

"Goodbye my love", Shadrack Mbao's heartbreaking tribute to his wife and children as pipeline family lays to rest seven family members

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Leleti Jassor