By Andrew Mbuva
What was meant to be a joyful moment for 58-year-old Samuel Maitha Kilonzo of Kyeleni turned tragic after he drowned in the Athi River while on his way to collect a new phone gifted to him by his daughter.
Maitha drowned on Sunday evening at a bridge over the Athi River in Oldonyo Sabuk, Matungulu Sub-County, while heading to Makutano Junction along Thika Road to meet his daughter, Josephine Nduku Maitha.
Josephine, who was travelling from Kitui to Ruiru, had planned to hand over the brand-new phone to her father at the junction before continuing with her journey.
However, the planned family reunion never happened after Maitha and his boda boda rider were reportedly involved in an altercation with occupants of a private vehicle at the bridge.
According to the rider, Simon Kilonzo Muiva, the two were knocked down by the vehicle before the three occupants allegedly emerged and started assaulting them.
Muiva said Maitha slipped from the bridge while apparently trying to protect himself and plunged into the river.
The occupants of the vehicle reportedly fled the scene shortly after the incident, leaving the family to deal with the devastating loss.
Josephine said she last spoke to her father while arranging how he would collect the phone from her as she travelled towards Nairobi.
After she and her husband continued with their journey, Josephine received a call from the rider while they were at Maguguini, informing her that her father had drowned and asking her to return.
Daniel Kilonzo, the deceased's elder brother, said the family began searching for private divers from Kiambu County after receiving news of the incident.
The divers attempted to retrieve the body in the morning but were forced to suspend the operation after running out of gas and returning to Kiambu to replenish their supplies.
Kilonzo said divers from both Machakos and Kiambu counties were involved in the recovery efforts before private divers eventually retrieved the body.
Residents have now raised concerns over the condition of the bridge, which connects Machakos and Kiambu counties.
Alice Kalekye, a resident of Donyo Sabuk, described the bridge as a danger to motorists, pedestrians, schoolchildren and livestock, noting that it is narrow, one-way and lacks guardrails or protective grills.
Ambrose Mwihaki, another resident, questioned the level of disaster preparedness at the bridge, saying the family had to rely on private divers after waiting for hours for rescue assistance.
Mwihaki called on Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti and relevant authorities to strengthen disaster preparedness and response mechanisms in the area, particularly as the country prepares for the expected El Niño rains.
Donyo Sabuk boda boda chairman Stephen Muindi said the bridge was too narrow to safely accommodate vehicles and motorcycles at the same time, calling for the construction of a wider bridge.
Police officers from Oldonyo Sabuk Police Station in Matungulu Sub-County later collected Maitha's body and transferred it to Kwa Mulinga Funeral Home as the family came to terms with his death.
The incident has left a family mourning what was supposed to be a simple celebration of a new phone, turning an ordinary family reunion into a heartbreaking tragedy.
