A grieving family in Bomachoge Chache is struggling to come to terms with the sudden death of their 100-year-old patriarch, Mzee Ombui Orandi, under circumstances that remain unclear and disputed.
According to relatives, the elderly man left home early on Wednesday and walked nearly three kilometres to Egetuki grounds. He was eager to witness a presidential visit to the area, not knowing it would be his last journey. Family members say he was in good spirits and determined to be part of the historic moment as the President addressed residents on the final day of the Kisii tour.
They claim that shortly after the President finished speaking, confusion broke out. Residents were allegedly asked to return to the field, where money was being distributed.
In the rush that followed, the situation is said to have turned chaotic, with people pushing and scrambling to receive cash handouts of Ksh.200.
Francis Nyabuto, the deceased’s son, says he learned of the incident from witnesses who described how his father was caught in the crowd. He believes the old man was knocked down and trampled during the scramble.
Teresa Kerubo, who had accompanied her father to the event, recalls the moment she realized something was wrong. She says they had started heading home when an announcement urged people to return, and shortly after, word spread that someone had died.
She later discovered it was her father, finding him injured and motionless.
The family reported the matter to the police, hoping for answers and possible accountability. However, Kisii County Police Commander Ronald Kirui has dismissed the claims. He maintains that the elderly man died far from the venue and insists no stampede occurred during or after the presidential event.
Efforts to get a response from area Member of Parliament Alfa Miruka were unsuccessful, as he declined to comment on the allegations.
The incident has sparked wider reactions, including from former Chief Justice David Maraga, who criticised the political environment surrounding such events, blaming leaders for encouraging dependency among citizens.
The family now faces both emotional and financial hardship. They say they are unable to raise enough money for burial arrangements, leaving them not only searching for justice but also struggling to give their loved one a dignified send-off.
