Kirinyaga: Sagana hero who rescued accident victims dies hours later

Kelvin Kanyoro died on Tuesday night after joining residents in responding to a crash involving a Toyota Hilux pick-up belonging to a milk manufacturing company in Nyeri and a Toyota matatu operated by 2NK Sacco.

The accident, which occurred near his family home in Sagana, claimed the lives of two people and left nine others injured.

Kirinyaga West Sub-County Police Commander Julius Gaya said the pick-up was travelling from Sagana towards Makutano when it suffered a tyre burst, causing the driver to lose control.

The vehicle veered off its lane, crossed the trench separating the two carriageways and collided head-on with the oncoming matatu, which was heading towards Sagana.

"On impact, we lost two persons and nine were injured - unfortunately the driver of the matatu and a middle-aged lady believed to have been a passenger," Gaya said.

Kanyoro was among the first people to arrive at the scene, as his family home is located approximately 50 metres from the accident site.

He immediately joined the rescue efforts, helping to pull injured passengers from the wreckage and assisting them to access emergency medical attention.

Residents who responded to the accident said Kanyoro played a significant role in helping those trapped in the matatu before emergency responders arrived.

However, hours after the rescue operation, tragedy struck his family when he went to sleep and failed to wake up.

According to his father, Mathew Githinji, Kanyoro returned home after the incident and spoke about the accident, recounting the victims he had encountered and the efforts to assist them. He also appeared fatigued following the rescue mission.

The family became concerned the following morning when he could not be reached. They were forced to break down the door to his room, only to discover that he had died.

"Whatever happened only God knows," the grieving family said.

News of his death sent shockwaves through Kwa V, Sagana and neighbouring villages, where residents gathered at the family homestead to mourn the young man.

The gathering followed an announcement made in church, informing the community that Kanyoro had died on the same night he helped rescue accident victims.

Lucy Waithera, among the family members and neighbours who gathered to console the bereaved family, said residents were struggling to come to terms with the sudden loss.

Kirinyaga West Sub-County Police Commander Julius Gaya also paid tribute to Kanyoro, describing his death as particularly heartbreaking given his actions at the accident scene.

"I was shocked to hear the man who helped us late died, it is very sad indeed," Gaya said.