I did not sacrifice my wife and two sons in accident - Pastor Peter Ndung'u

By Cate Mukei | 8yrs ago | 3 min read

Pastor Peter Ndung’u woke up from his hospital bed and found out that he had almost lost all his family members. He spoke to CATE MUKEI about struggling with anxiety and panic attacks after the accident

Tell us about yourself... My name is Peter Ndung’u Kamunya. I hail from Eldoret, Kesses in Uasin Gishu County. My late wife was Dorcas Kanario M’anampiu and we were blessed with three children - Ivy Wambui, the late Tom Maina and the late Samuel Muriuki.

How was your family before the accident?

I met my wife in 1993. We started dating and finally got married in 1997. She was a hotelier but quit her job after marriage. We were blessed with a girl in 1999, a boy in 2003 and the last born a boy in 2006. My wife then ventured into the clothes business, buying goods from Kampala and selling them in Nairobi. Her business was thriving and she was the family’s breadwinner.

What happened on the fateful day? It was August 28, 2015. We asked our neighbour to lend us his car to take our daughter back to school. She was a student at St Catherine Nthagaiya Girls School in Embu. We had also planned to pass through Meru for the weekend but this did not happen.

The journey started at 5am and all I remember was a happy family chatting and making promises to each other. At around 8.30am, we had a tyre burst and I lost control of the car. I think I was hit by an overtaking lorry because I heard two different bangs. I became unconscious and remember waking up in a hospital bed.

What was your reaction when you woke up in hospital? A nurse told me that I was lucky because I was the only survivor. I was shocked and annoyed at how she broke the news. I learnt that my wife, two sons and my brother-in-law had died. The accident occurred at Kango near the Kutus/Embu road junction.

How has life been since the accident?

I real miss my family. Sometimes I imagine they are somewhere where I can pick them. I was traumatised since some people claimed I had sacrificed my family. Others don’t talk to me, the in-laws were torn into two; some supporting me, while some avoided me.

Did your extended family blame you?

They were conflicted. Some supported me while others started rumours that I had sacrificed my family claiming that I was in a cult.

What do you miss the most about your family?

I miss them. I can feel their spirit within me. I miss my wife. She was a hardworking woman who had a bright vision for us.

How are you coping emotionally?

Sometimes I feel very sick and want to break down in public. I suffer anxiety attacks that make me want to throw up. I’m still struggling, but I believe that I will overcome. At least I still have my daughter.

Have you moved on?

I have not married and I’m not intending to because I don’t think I can ever get the love of my life.

If you were given a second chance with them, what is that one thing you would love to do?

Only God knows why I survived with my daughter who is in Form Two now. Given a chance, I would go to church to celebrate.