Sachangwan fire tragedy ghosts still haunt us five years later

Naomi Waithera holds a board that is a reminder of her four children who died in the tragedy.  [PHOTOS: BONIFACE THUKU AND HENRY KWENA/ STANDARD]

By KARANJA NJOROGE

Sachangwan, Kenya: Majority of Kenyans may have moved on after the Sachangwan oil tanker tragedy, but affected families are still traumatised.

More than five years after the accident, survivors have been succumbing to complications associated with the incident.

Cases of depression, stroke and paralysis have increased significantly in the area.

Lack of psycho- socio support left survivors in a precarious state with many failed Government promises.

During the funeral service for the victims at Nguzo Primary School, leaders led by President Kibaki promised support to the bereaved families including orphans.

However, a visit by The Standard on Saturday revealed that the trauma experienced by families who lost their loved ones continues to  take its toll with the elderly being the major casualties.

Among the worst hit areas by the tragedy are villages and trading centres along the highway with most homesteads in Kibunja and Sachangwan having lost more than one relative.

In one homestead, 60-year-old Lucy Chebochok, who suffered a stroke after losing two children is wasting away.

Neighbours and relatives say Chebochok, who can hardly communicate, was traumatised by the death of her two children.

“She was in a state of shock for days after the incident and later suffered a stroke and since then she appears confused,” her daughter Monicah Chepngeno who looks after her says.

Relatives say lack of funds has frustrated efforts to seek better treatment. “We were advised by doctors to take her for a scan but because we don’t have funds that was not possible,” Ms Chepngeno adds.

A few kilometres away at Kibunja trading centre the family of Elena Kavisi still blames the tragedy for the death of their mother.

David Kibango says his mother sunk into depression and died two years ago after his sister Beatrice Esoi died in the tragedy.

“She used to wonder aloud why the fire consumed her daughter and wished she was the one who died,” he  says.

Mr Kibango says his mother never recovered from the death of her daughter who left behind two children.

Ailments

In a bid to address the worrying trend of ailments and deaths linked to the tragedy, residents formed a social support group.

Joseph Chumo lost two sons in the incident.

One of the sons Daudi Korir died moments after being rushed to hospital while Simeon succumbed to injuries several years after the incident.

“Simeon sustained leg injuries during the incident which continued to  give him problems until  he died,”  the father  says.

On the ill-fated day the two sons were assisting their father on the farm before they rushed to the scene to assist victims who were caught up in the explosion.

“They rushed to the scene hoping to assist but were unfortunately engulfed by the fire which was clearly visible from here,” the father says pointing to  the direction of the  accident  from his home. 

Families of the oil tanker victims have accused the Government of neglecting them.

The Chairperson of the Sachangwan Tragedy Support Group Rosemary Chepkwony says some children orphaned during the incident have become street boys in the neighbouring trading centres of Molo and Salgaa.

At the home of Naomi Waithera who lost four children in the inferno a plaque inscribed with the words “the day I will never forget” placed in the table room acts a reminder of  the horrific  incident.

Ms Waithera says it was only through prayer and counselling that she was able to overcome the loss of her children. The deceased are Esther Wanjiru (20), Rose Muthoni (17), James Mwangi (13) and Paul Njenga (28).

 She is the vice chairperson of the 200 member support group, which usually meets once a month to seek ways to support survivors.

Initially the number of those attending the meetings used to be high but the enthusiasm by participants has dwindled over the years due to lack of support especially from the Government.

“We usually meet once a month mostly as officials but in the past we used to have regular meetings but most members have become disillusioned after realising the Government was not coming to our aid,” she adds.

The names of those who perished in the inferno are engraved on the mausoleum to act as a reminder to motorists and villagers along the busy highway to avoid scenes of oil tanker accidents.