Renowned gospel musician Daddy Owen has expressed his deep sorrow following the death of his friend, Kenneth Ochwando, who perished in the tragic multiple-car crash at Matauro in the Duka Moja area, Narok County.
Ochwando, the Head of Procurement at the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), was among the victims of the accident, which involved a trailer, a Toyota Prado, a Toyota Premio, an Ena Coach bus, and a matatu shuttle.
Taking to social media, Daddy Owen shared an emotional tribute to his late friend, revealing the close bond they had formed.
“Last year, during a season like this, I visited my friend Philip in Kisii and met his brother Ken. We bonded deeply, and the whole family planned to visit me in Kakamega this year," he wrote.
In his post, Daddy Owen recounted how he learned of the devastating news.
Tragically, Ken lost his life in the Suswa accident. My heart sank, as I had already made plans for their visit, and Ken had informed his family. I later saw photos of the accident online, including a crashed Prado, and recognized a familiar face in a photo shared by government officials.
The singer described the shock and grief of recognising a friend in such tragic circumstances, extending his heartfelt condolences to Ochwando’s family and friends.
The accident, which occurred on the busy Narok-Mai Mahiu Road, has claimed several lives, with rescue efforts ongoing to determine the exact number of casualties.
Daddy Owen heartbroken after discovering a friend he was preparing to host died on social media
Details of the double accident
According to police reports, the first accident was triggered when a trailer travelling from Narok towards Mai Mahiu suffered a tyre burst, causing the driver to lose control.
This trailer collided with a Toyota Premio, an Ena Coach bus, and a Narok-Line matatu, resulting in three fatalities among the matatu's occupants.
Shortly after this initial crash, a second trailer, reportedly speeding towards Narok, arrived at the scene.
In an attempt to navigate around the wreckage, it collided head-on with a Toyota Prado travelling in the opposite direction.
This collision resulted in two immediate deaths and another occupant succumbing to injuries later at Narok County Referral Hospital.
Additionally, this second trailer struck a motorcycle, killing two pillion passengers instantly.