Family Mourns Dr Mary Mwandisha Among Those Killed In The Tharaka Nithi Bridge Accident

When a Modern Coast bus collided with the Tharaka Nithi bridge on Sunday, one Kilifi family shared their final moments with a member who was one of the dead.

Dr. Mary Mwandisha, 29, had just accepted a position with the Taita Taveta county government, and her family claims that when she passed away, she was en route to pick up her appointment letter.

She apparently met the requirements for an interview last week, and her start date for employment was set for August 1, 2022.

The deceased, the fourth child in a family of five, reportedly had a contract job at Meru’s Life Care hospital.

Evangeline Mwandisha, her mother, said in an interview that she last spoke with her daughter before boarding the bus and was waiting for her call upon arrival.

“She called me before boarding and she promised to call upon arrival. I was worried when I woke up at 6am and realised that her phone was not going through after failing to notify me,” Evangeline told the Standard.

“I was a hopeful parent, my daughter had many dreams to achieve. She was on the right path and her untimely death is such a big blow.”

Mwandisha’s brother, Richard, stated that her death is a great loss for the family and that she will be remembered for her compassion.

“She oozed compassion from every pore of her body, and she was just well-loved. She was the kind of person who would give the shirt off her back to somebody in need,” Richard said.

The death toll from the 6:30 p.m. crash rose to 33 on Monday morning, after six more bodies were recovered from the wreckage.
The bus most likely lost brakes, hit an approaching car, and then fell 40 feet into the river below, according to police officers and rescue personnel at the scene.

Nobert Komora, the county commissioner for Tharaka Nithi, reported on Monday that 13 additional passengers had suffered critical injuries and were receiving treatment at several hospitals.

While an investigation into the fatal collision is ongoing, the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) has suspended all Modern Coast operations.

Deepest condolence to the various families and friends.