Grief and sorrow as grade one pupil who died in road accident is rested
A somber mood engulfed a village as hundreds of pupils and parents bid farewell to a grade one learner of Gatondo Primary School in Embu County who was killed in a road accident at the gate of their homestead last week.
Six-year-old Ariana Nyaguthii was knocked down by a lorry and died instantly right at the gate of their home as she crossed the Embu-Siakago road less than 100 meters from the schools.
The funeral service of the deceased held at the St Mary’s Gatondo ACK Church next to the school attracted learners, parents, and teachers from various schools.
Her grade one classmates are yet to come to terms with their friend’s demise.
Gatondo and Kiamuringa Day and Boarding school communities were at a loss because Mr. J Nyagah, the grandfather to the departed Nyaguthii teaches at the Kiamuringa less than five kilometers along the same Embu-Siakago road where he is the deputy head teacher.
The accident has raised concerns about road safety measures around the schools since just recently a Junior Secondary School learner was also hit by a school van less than one kilometer away.
During the funeral service, Right Reverend Gladys Nduta Kariuki called for patience and prayers from the parents, friends, and relatives of the departed child.
She also called for prayers and counseling for the classmates and other learners to ensure the trauma of the death did not devastate them psychologically.
Rev Kariuki encouraged parents saying that life and death were part and parcel of destiny.
“Avoid looking for answers to deaths from elsewhere, trust in God because he is in charge of life”, said Rev Kariuki.
Reverend Kariuki asked parents and teachers not to tire of creating awareness of the proper road safety rules and regulations, especially for learners using various means of transport and even closing roads.
Residents called on the government to put road safety measures closer to schools noting that motorists needed to be controlled when driving closer to schools to avoid the loss of innocent lives.
Most schools in Embu Country have in the recent past been educating pupils and students about road safety measures with learners being taken through safety precautions and measures while on the roads.
By Robert Nyagah
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