Family’s wedding plans turn into burial arrangements for daughter killed in Makueni road crash

A family in Kitui County has been left in shock and grief after their wedding preparations suddenly turned into funeral arrangements, following the tragic death of their daughter, who was the bride-to-be.

Jackline Kasau, 42, died in a Saturday night road crash while travelling from her dowry payment ceremony back to Makueni, where she lives and works.

The St. Mary’s Kinyambu Girls’ Secondary School teacher was with her 10-year-old daughter, her mother-in-law from Kibwezi, and a neighbour when the accident occurred, claiming all their lives.

Video footage from the celebration, held just a day earlier, shows Jackline joyfully dancing as she looked forward to her wedding, scheduled for next Saturday, August 16.

Her family described her as a supportive, dependable, and loving pillar whose absence will be deeply felt.

“She was like a mother to me; she took care of me when I was schooling, so even coming to terms with her death is itself very hard for me, but what else can we do?” Jacinta Kilonzo, Jackline’s younger sister, told Citizen Digital in an interview on Sunday.

“It is sad to see the WhatsApp groups where we were making the final arrangements for Saturday’s wedding be converted into burial arrangement forums.”

Saturday night’s accident occurred at around 11 p.m. along the Kibwezi-Kitui Road in Makueni, killing three on the spot.

Two were transferred to the Kibwezi AMREF hospital for treatment, where one succumbed to injuries.

The other, a male cousin to Jackline’s fiancé, sustained minor injuries and was discharged after treatment.

According to Kibwezi Base Commander, Morris Situma, it is believed that the car the group was driving in was speeding, and the driver lost control at the scene of the accident, causing it to roll.