Regulate social media, Kisii crash victims’ mother says

Ms Rachael Mutiga (centre), the mother who lost her two daughters in a road crash on Kisii- Kilgoris road on July 8, 2016. She berated the social media for alleging that she had committed suicide following the death of her children. PHOTO | ELGAR MACHUKA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The Anglican Church in Kisii town where the service was bursting at the seams as the surging crowd craned to catch a glimpse of the caskets bearing the remains of Vinnah Morangi, 21, and Valerie Wangari, 20.
  • Ms Morangi was pursuing a degree in mass communication at Kenyatta University while her sister was due to join the same course in September at the same institution.

There was a sombre mood as family members and relatives attended an emotional requiem Mass for two sisters who died last week in a tragic road accident on the Kisii- Kilgoris road.

The Anglican Church in Kisii town where the service was bursting at the seams as the surging crowd craned to catch a glimpse of the caskets bearing the remains of Vinnah Morangi, 21, and Valerie Wangari, 20.

Ms Morangi was pursuing a degree in mass communication at Kenyatta University while her sister was due to join the same course in September at the same institution.

Four other students and two drivers also perished in the pile-up at Etora when their van rammed into a canter as they headed to a party at Magena town.

The entire Kisii County top leadership and politicians gave the service a wide berth.

UNVERIFIED INFORMATION

The service was presided over by the church’s regional head, Rev John Omangi, who is also the youngest bishop in the global Anglican Communion.

Rachael Muthiga, the mother of the sisters, recounted tearfully how social media had turned her life upside down after rumours began circulating that she had committed suicide due to the tragedy.

She is now left only with a son after the death of her daughters.

The widow further urged the youth to go slow on social media, saying much of the information they contained was unedifying.

“I want to tell the person that I am very much alive. The Lord has given me strength and there is no reason for taking such an action,” said the Kisii Primary School teacher.

She said there was a need for the government to regulate social media to stop the flow of unverified information.

NEGATIVE CONTENT

Her sentiments were echoed by Rev Omangi, who said some information posted on the web was traumatizing to the affected families.

He said it hurts most when people generate wrong and negative content which insinuates the death of people who are already traumatized.

“People should be careful on what they choose to spread on media platforms,” he said.

The cleric also warned drivers against reckless driving.

He urged both the national and county governments to crack whip on such reckless drivers and bring sanity to the roads.

He also said that the church was perturbed by incidents of extra-judicial killings in the country.

He termed as unfortunate the killings of lawyer Willie Kimani and his client and a taxi driver.

“The government should make sure that such criminals are jailed by concluding investigations very soon,” he added.

(Editing by Obed Simiyu)