Joy turned to grief: Family of five died in Mbaruk crash after welcoming newborn

A heavy cloud of grief hangs over a Malindi family following a heartbreaking accident that claimed six lives in the Mbaruk area, Gilgil, on Monday night.

In a moving phone interview with Mtaa Wangu, the brothers’ younger sibling, Stanley Toffa, recounted the events and the devastating loss that has torn through their home.

Among the dead, he says, are his second-born brother James Toffa Balozi, third-born brother Wellington Nyale, Nyale’s wife Patience Bahati, their one-day newborn son Meshack, Patience’s sister Neema Dundi, and Wellington close family friend.

Stanley says, what was supposed to be a happy trip home turned into the family’s worst nightmare.

Mentioning that on Sunday, August 3, Nyale’s wife had been taken to the military hospital in Lanet, where she safely delivered a bouncing baby boy. She was discharged on Monday, August 4.

“In the spirit of supporting each other, Balozi travelled from Gilgil, where he lived and worked with the Anti-Stock Theft Unit (ASTU), to assist Nyale’s family after Patience’s delivery. They were also joined by their friend, who owned a Toyota Fielder that would ferry them home. Also at the hospital was Neema, Patience’s sister, who had been caring for her. They all left together, heading to Nyale’s home in Gilgil,” Stanley explains.

Stanley says that on Monday evening, he tried calling Nyale several times but once the call was answered, it was by a stranger.

The person over the call met him with crushing news: The vehicle the phone owner was travelling in had crashed in Mbaruk.

“James, Patience, her son, Neema, and Nyale’s friend all died on the spot. I was told by a stranger who answered the call and asked if I was nearby and could come help. Later on, I also learnt that Nyale, who had initially survived the impact, succumbed to his injuries while being rushed to hospital” Stanley says, his voice low and heavy. 

“The whole family was wiped out, just like that and Nyale’s first-born son has now been left orphaned by the crash.”

Additionally, Stanley says Nyale's first-born child was four years old and had been left at James' home where one of his children had been having a birthday party.

Sharing how his brothers left their Malindi home years ago to seek work and build a better life, he says Nyale, 33, joined the military in 2014 and was posted in Gilgil.

In this time of work, he had served in Somalia in both 2020 and 2023. He notes from his deployment earnings; he built their father a house in Malindi and supported their father and younger siblings.

On the other hand, Balozi, 35, joined (ASTU) in 2017 and served in Mandera 2018, went to Turkan 2024 and early 2025 posted in Gilgil and was equally dedicated.

Though his home was still under construction, he had plans to complete it during his leave and support the finishing work on their father’s house that Nyale had initially constructed.

“The two loved each other so much. Most of their days off they visited each other. Similarly, they were both on leave when this happened," he notes 

Speaking of when they last visited home, Stanley says, "Nyale had come home this year in April, for my wedding. He stayed with us for a few days before returning to work. James was supposed to travel home this week. He had been so excited about updates on the house he was building. They both had plans, dreams. Now… nothing,” Stanley adds. 

Stanley says, what makes the loss even more unbearable is how much James and Nyale meant to their family of 10 siblings, six boys and four girls.

“They were our pillars. Everything we needed, they supported. Yale even sold his cow last month to help pay university fees for our sister at Taveta University,” Stanley says, noting the family lost loving and caring people.

The family is now grappling with the shock of planning five funerals.

“The army has its own processes. We can’t just bury my brothers like anyone else. They have been in touch and we will provide the burial dates. They will handle his burial the military way. Our wish is to have all of them buried on the same day,” Stanley explains. 

“They were more than brothers. They were role models. They held us together. Now that they are gone, we feel like our backbone has been broken,” Stanley concludes.

The accident is believed to have occured when the driver of the fielder was overtaking a fleet of vehicles but unfortunately ran into a saloon car. He then lost control of the vehicle and rammed into a trailer.