- Two Technical University of Mombasa students have died after a bus carrying a university delegation crashed near Ahero.
- The students were travelling after attending the burial of former TUM students’ union chairman Elvis “Beast” Otieno.
- Fourteen of the 29 injured students have been discharged, while 15 remain under medical care.
A journey that began with grief and remembrance has ended in another devastating tragedy for the Technical University of Mombasa (TUM), after a road accident near Ahero in Kisumu County claimed the lives of two students and left 29 others injured.
The students had travelled from Mombasa to Kisumu to attend the burial of Elvis “Beast” Otieno, a former chairman of the Technical University of Mombasa Students’ Union who died on July 20.
But on Friday, August 7, tragedy struck as the students travelled along the Awasi–Ahero highway.
Fourteen of the injured students have since been discharged from hospital, offering some relief to their families and the university community.
However, 15 others remain under medical care as doctors continue monitoring and treating injuries sustained during the crash.
The accident has left the university community confronting an extraordinary double loss—first the death of a former student leader and, days later, the sudden deaths of two students who had travelled to honour his memory.
The students had travelled from Mombasa to Kisumu to join fellow students, friends and members of the university community in paying their final respects to Otieno.
Otieno had served as chairman of the Technical University of Mombasa Students’ Union and remained known within the university community following his tenure.
His death on July 20 had already triggered mourning among students, former colleagues and friends.
According to reports, the TUM delegation arrived safely in Kisumu and received Otieno’s body before beginning the journey towards the burial venue.
It was during the return journey that the fatal accident occurred.
The bus was travelling along the Awasi–Ahero highway when the driver reportedly encountered an oncoming vehicle and swerved in an attempt to avoid a head-on collision.
The manoeuvre was followed by a loss of control, causing the bus to overturn.
The accident left two male students dead and 29 others injured.
What should have been a solemn journey to celebrate the life of a former student leader suddenly became another painful chapter of loss for the university.
TUM Vice Chancellor Professor Laila U. Abubakar confirmed that two students died in the crash.
The university subsequently began the process of informing the families of the deceased and coordinating with them as arrangements were made concerning the bodies.
For the families, the news transformed an ordinary day into one of unimaginable grief.
Their children had left home as part of a university delegation travelling to attend a burial.
They would instead become victims of a road tragedy that has shaken the institution.
Fourteen students discharged
A total of 29 students sustained injuries in the crash.
Emergency medical teams responded by taking the injured to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital and Lisa Hospital in Ahero.
One student required specialised medical attention and was subsequently transferred to Aga Khan Hospital, where the student was admitted to the High Dependency Unit.
The latest update that 14 students have been discharged is a welcome development for their families.
However, 15 students remain hospitalised.
Their continued treatment means that the university community remains closely concerned about their recovery.
The accident has created an unusual and deeply painful situation for TUM.
The students involved in the crash were travelling to honour the memory of a former student leader whose death had already affected the institution.
Otieno died on July 20 after reportedly collapsing during a meeting in Mombasa.
His death had left students and former colleagues mourning.
The delegation’s journey to Kisumu was intended to provide an opportunity for the university community to stand with his family and participate in his final farewell.
Instead, the university returned from the journey carrying another burden of grief.
The deaths of the two students have compounded the emotional impact of Otieno’s passing and created a fresh wave of mourning across the institution.
Counselling offered as focus turns to recovery
The effects of such an accident extend beyond physical injuries.
Students and staff who lost friends, witnessed the aftermath or remain worried about colleagues still receiving treatment may also face significant emotional distress.
TUM has therefore encouraged affected students and staff to seek assistance through its Guidance and Counselling Services.
The support is intended to help members of the university community process the sudden deaths and traumatic circumstances surrounding the accident.
As information about the accident continues to circulate, TUM has urged the public and members of the university community to rely on verified information.
The institution has cautioned against spreading unconfirmed reports about the crash and urged the public not to circulate graphic photographs or videos from the accident scene.
Such material can cause additional distress to bereaved families, friends and students already struggling with the aftermath of the tragedy.
With 14 students already discharged, attention has now shifted to the recovery of the 15 students who remain under medical care.
The university is expected to continue coordinating with medical facilities and affected families as treatment progresses.
At the same time, the institution faces the difficult responsibility of helping students and staff cope with the emotional consequences of the tragedy.
For the families of the two students who lost their lives, the journey has ended in unimaginable grief.
For the 15 students still in hospital, the immediate priority is recovery.
And for the 14 students who have been discharged, healing will continue beyond the hospital walls.
What began as a journey to honour the memory of a former student leader has therefore become one of the darkest moments for the Technical University of Mombasa.
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The Ahero crash has left two families mourning, dozens of students recovering and an entire university community struggling to come to terms with a tragedy that unfolded in the course of a journey meant to pay final respects.
By Our Reporter
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