Victor Kipng’etich Cheruiyot, a young Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) soldier, died this week in a road accident.
Kipng’etich lost his wife eight months ago, in March of this year. Now, their young son has also lost his father.
The village of Olenguruone Cheptuech in Bomet County is enveloped in silence, with grief intricately woven into the fabric of daily life.
Memories loop like old film reels. He had travelled from Nairobi to his duty station in Isiolo County when the crash occurred.
Friends recall him as strong, steady, a soldier committed to his nation and family.
Yet the photo from his wife’s funeral tells a different story: his face hollow, eyes distant, clutching her portrait as pallbearers trailed behind.
On Tuesday morning his vehicle left the city roads and never reached its endpoint.
Online sources indicate that Kipng’etich died in a road accident. The KDF have yet to release an official statement regarding the incident.
Tributes pour in
Community members and online mourners have poured out grief in comments:
“Life is so cruel. Some months ago, Cheruiyot lost his wife – and now it’s him.”
“May his soul rest in peace. It’s hard to believe you are no more.”
National emergency
While Kipng’etich’s death is a personal tragedy, it also reflects a national emergency.
Kenya recorded approximately 4,579 road-traffic fatalities in 2021.
In the first half of 2024 alone, 2,407 people lost their lives and over 10,166 were injured in around 11,502 crashes.
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Kenya’s roads rank among the most dangerous in sub-Saharan Africa, at a rate of around 28 deaths per 100,000 people.
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