A family in Kiambu County is in agony after a series of life-threatening accidents left them struggling to make ends meet.

Betty Gatune, a 50-year old mother of six has not only survived two motor vehicle accidents but also saw her son endure an accident of his own while her husband died from the chain of tragedies.

All tragedies within just a year. Her first life-threatening accident happened in late 2019 when a motorist who was fuelling at the petrol station where she worked hit her. The accident broke her hips and legs as the motorists drove off - never to be seen again.

Months later in 2020, another rogue driver hit Gatune sending her to the ground. Having had a previous accident, she was more vulnerable to injury.

She braved three tough months as she recuperated at home, bedridden with a rope tied to her roof to help her sit up.


Later in July, her husband James Waithaka was involved in an accident at his workplace where he worked as a construction worker.

As he was going about his duties, a bag of cement fell on him, hitting his spinal cord.

After downplaying the injury, Waithaka‘s pain became too much to bear and decided to seek medical attention but it was too late.

When his wife took him to Kiambu Hospital for an x-ray, it was discovered that his upper hip had a massive blood clot and was taken to the wards as his condition worsened by the day.

Nurses then decided to do a Covid-19 test on him which turned out positive and was rushed to the quarantine wards where he died.


While all this was happening, Gatune's son Dennis Munene had been bedridden after being run over by a speeding matatu. After being rushed to Karuri Hospital and later Kiambu Hospital, an x-ray and CT-Scan were done.

The accident saw Dennis sustain blunt injuries in his pelvis and multiple fractures around his pubic rami. A catheter (a flexible tube inserted through a narrow opening into a body cavity, particularly the bladder, for removing fluid) was then placed into his belly. He was advised to get a belt to secure his pelvis.

Dennis needs his catheter changed every two weeks. To aggravate the situation, Gatune’s landlord evicted her and a sick Dennis out of their house for rent arrears and she moved into a neighbouring single room.

Digital journalist Caroline Njeri highlighted the story on Dec 8 where Gatune welcomed well-wishers to help support her son and provide for her family.
https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/60098-family-suffers-4-life-threatening-accidents-one-year