Mwihoko Mum Who Lost Child in Plane Crash Says Her Other Kids Escaped Death By Failing to Go Home
- A family was adversely affected following the Mwihoko plane crash, as they lost a close member following the incident
- The family opened up for the first time after the fateful event as they narrated what happened on the heartbreaking day
- The deceased's mother was sore heartbroken noting she not only lost her child but also her property
- Speaking exclusively to TUKO.co.ke, trauma counsellor Esther Wanjiku warned Mwihoko plane crash survivors risk lasting trauma without urgent professional support
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A mother who lost her young daughter in the plane crash in Mwihoko, Githurai 45, Ruiru constituency, Kiambu county, has spoken.
Source: Youtube
The plane crash, which happened on Thursday afternoon, August 7, left six people dead and several injured.
The aircraft carried four personnel who died instantly, while two locals lost their lives after the plane crashed into residential homes.
Mercy Nafula experienced firsthand loss as she lost her child, Yvonne Akinyi, who was at home when the incident happened.
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Mercy Nafula narrates how her daughter died
With a cloud of grief covering her sorrowful face, Nafula gathered strength to open up about the incident and how her other children managed to escape death.
"I was not in the house. I had gone to look for bread. My kids had left in the morning to go to the salon. There were three, together with my sister, who is their aunt.
"When they started plaiting the elder daughter's hair, they asked the youngest to return home and prepare lunch as the others remained in the salon. While preparing lunch for the family, the crash occurred. It happened while my daughter was inside the house," the heartbroken mum said.
A shattered Nafula painfully spoke about her parenting struggles as she fought back tears.
How many kids does Mercy Nafula have?
A woman stood beside her, comforting the mother of three, who is now left with two children after the tragic incident.
"I have raised the kids single-handedly. I have struggled with them as a single mum. Right now, I do not know where to begin or where to end. Everything has been destroyed in the crash, including my business clothes, which were burned. I do not have anything at all at the moment. My kids' birth certificates were also burned.
I have a Grade Eight pupil and the other is in PP1. Everything has been destroyed. So I am just the way I am, without anything," she said emotionally.
Speaking exclusively to TUKO.co.ke, trauma counsellor Esther Wanjiku, who has worked extensively with disaster survivors in Kenya, said the Mwihoko plane crash survivors, especially children, risk developing long-term psychological scars if they do not receive immediate professional support.
She explained that in such tragedies, grief can be compounded by the suddenness and violence of the loss, making healing even harder without intervention.
“In cases like this, the shock and horror can linger for years if not addressed early. Families, especially children, need safe spaces to express their emotions, process the trauma, and gradually rebuild their sense of safety,” she said.
What is Mercy Nafula's plea to well-wishers?
She pleaded with well-wishers to help her restart her life, as she does not know what to do and has nothing to start with.
Nafula was, however, grateful to God that she was alive together with her two remaining children, who might have died had they followed their sister home.
"If they had all come home to prepare lunch, I would have been alone right now. I cannot tell or know God's plan, but He has preserved the other two.
"My prayer and cry is to see my dead child. I just want to ensure I give her a befitting send-off," she shared.
Source: Youtube
Mwihoko eyewitnesses narrate how plane crash happened
Eyewitnesses from Mwihoko also narrated how the plane crash happened on the afternoon of Thursday.
One lady said she was on her balcony when she suddenly saw a plane spinning while on fire above her.
"Then suddenly, it fell with a loud bang as I watched. It crashed into a house, and its occupants were in there. There were even children in the house," she said.
Another eyewitness narrated that he was at a nearby field. He said upon arrival at the scene, they were met with gory scenes as human remains were scattered all over the scene of the accident.
He also narrated the gory scenes he witnessed.
Mercy Nafula recorded weeping bitterly
Previously, a video made rounds online showing Nafula crying for her 12-year-old daughter, who died after the plane rammed into their house.
Nafula was carried away from the accident scene by several women who tried to comfort her in the difficult moment.
One woman warmly embraced her as she rubbed her back in an attempt to calm the shattered mother.
Nafula could be heard crying, "My child, my child," as she grieved her daughter who was no more.
Racheal Nyaguthie, HoD Human Interest, added the section on Mwihoko eyewitnesses.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
