The Stella Memusi I knew

Stella had a room right opposite my own in our dorm. She was in a clique called Junior Mafia, well it was a clique of short girls only. She was the life of the party and I was always in her room because she was so bubbly, upbeat and would bring even the most introverted person out of their shell. She was the only girl in her family and she loved regaling us with all her brothers crazy antics whenever they would go to Coast.

Meanwhile Kanchori Memusi was a year behind us and very quiet gentleman. He and Stella were dating though polar opposites. I never would have thought that Memusi would become a politician because of how introverted he was .

Stella was in my class too and we were like 10 girls out of 45, she was used to dealing with her brothers so she was always standing up to the 35 boys who were at times very brotherly but at other times very chauvinistic to the few of us ladies.

She would imitate the teachers and make the whole class laugh. There was never a dull moment around her. If you came around her you were certain to leave in high spirits. The last time I met her she was expecting and was on her way to swim at KCB club. Ever smiling, ever bubbly, I had never seen a day when Stella looked down, low or unhappy.

She was a go getter and at the same time she was like a mother to us all. Her room always had snacks and juice flowing and she was generous and kindhearted. Her BFF nickname was Nikki. Last time I met her was at Galitos at night where we were picking up food after returning from or family vacation in the Coast. She was picking up something to eat for her kids. They shared so much. Including being horizontally challenged. Smile. I know today is a very dark day for her.

Its so painful when you see people like you die, we always associate death with old age, you know, people older than you. During Corona we saw people who were with us in school, church and at work die in a matter of hours or days. I started to realize how much I take life for granted.

Stella was dropping off her kids to school and on her way back home, when her car hit a stationary truck left on the road that had no hazard signs. The driver made it but Stella didn’t. I’m so sad because I know that she was an amazing mom and now her kids have to live with out her for the rest of their lives.

Kanchori Memusi hasn’t just lost his wife and the mother of his children, a woman who has been with him for more than 20 years, he’s lost a grassroots mobilizer and mother of his constituents to whom she dedicated herself to, fully. Though she was a Kisii, she wore maasai apparel and fit right in to the community. She was a proverbs 31 woman, her husband was praised at the gate because of his amazing and able wife.

My thoughts and prayers are with the entire Maa community, Hon. Elijah Memusi, her dear kids,her extended family and friends. She was an amazing human being, may God receive her soul into His eternal glorious presence and may perpetual light always shine on her.

Life is short, let us live honorably and always love those around us because we don’t know the hour or day God will call us. We may not get another chance to hug our loved ones or tell them we love them or visit with them. We may not have another chance to say I’m sorry and to make ammends especially with our loved ones. My heart is so heavy. I can’t imagine what her family is going through. May the Lord comfort them and send them support from His holy mount Zion.

Really sad for the family, may she rest in peace.

Pole sana. Just how did she hit a stationary truck?

She was a good woman indeed

Pole sana.

May she rest in peace.

Pole dada Truman for the loss of your close friend. Be strong

May she RIP

Pole sana Truwoman on the loss of your friend. MSRIP.

@TrumanCapote very accurate description. She was also a very hardworking woman and if you met her at their Osiligi farm near Kajiado town, she would have all the figures and facts at her fingertips

I guess the driver was at speed and it may have been at a corner or after a hill, it was also dark and they were trying to avoid a head on collusion as well. The lorry also had no hazard sign. I know you like speeding but it’s not the best. Better late than never.

Kitengela …namanga road …that road not so good…
It has claimed more than it’s fair share of lives with most accidents resulting in fatalities…
The road is smooth somehow straight with a fair amount of traffic so you can find yourself speeding…
Then we have the lorries za mchanga…maybe the root of all this
Most are in good condition but just the madness ya madereva both wa lorry na wengine…
Unakuja na speed ya 100 - 140; the road is not entirely flat but gently undulating up and down every 2km or so, the lorry you see disappearing on the Crest should be a good way ahead by now>> only to realize the guy might have been moving at 40 or 60 when you reach the gentle Crest and find the truck right in front of you…
At that speed you know what follows next, swerve to overtake if no oncoming traffic or utoke kwa barabara kabisa; car rolls…ama if it’s dark or reflexes + speed haziko unaingia lori nyuma or clip the lorry ukijaribu kuhepa and the car rolls…
Have heard of quite a number of accidents of that nature along this road

I am familiar with that road. Had some project in Namanga. Yes, it’s very smooth.

Its never a good idea to speed even on a highway. If the place is a black spot, all the more reason not to be speeding. The driver escaped with minimal injuries and has been discharged. How is it that drivers seem to get away almost unharmed in most of these accidents? The news says that the lorry stalled and was left on the road with no hazard and no lights, probably why they didn’t see it. Unless it’s a well lit road, it’s hard to see anything with no reflectors or lights.

The driver of that truck was at fault. If the lorry broke down he should have placed reflectors on the road. If he had no reflectors he should find leaves and place them from some distance (some 30-50 metres away) behind the truck to warn any approaching vehicle to slow down and plan to change lanes early. Night driving on Kenyan roads is generally dangerous anyway, it’s all black, and people must avoid speeding. Hitting the back of a lorry is like suicide, even nicking the corner must be avoided by all means. Better get off the road, (unless there’s a bridge or a drop) braking and controlling the car simultaneously. The car might suffer, but you have a chance of survival. The lorry body is very hard, and it catches cars at a vulnerable height, above the bonnet. You have very limited protection there, if any.

Believe you me, with no reflectors you can hit a cyclist and even a car at night. It’s hard to see especially on our poorly lit roads.

What is nicking a corner? Generally you can’t trust any driver especially at night. You keep to a speed you can see everything. Modern vehicles lights penetrate to about 80-100m. With a safe speed, you can avoid colliding a stalled vehicle at night. Especially when driving in pitch darkness, I would think ones guards are at the highest level.

Oh, that wasn’t well put. I meant slightly hitting the rear corner of the truck body as you snatch your car out of the way. Even that slight blow can kill you at speed.

Damage on that car looks like they slammed it at at least 100-120 km/h. I suspect her driver may have been asleep. I don’t know if there are any investigations but lack of skid marks, or those starting very close to the truck would point to that.

They definitely hit the truck at a horrifying speed, for the car to be sliced and peel all the way from front to back. It happened after 11PM. Just on speculation, I’d think it had been a long day for the driver, driving to Nakuru and back. Truth is we have crazy roads, and drivers who make driving an extreme sport. He must’ve been quite tired when it happened.

Exactly. Most people overwork their drivers. You will find the driver woke up at 5:30 am and drank a cup of strungi in the servants quarter. Then he took off to go drop off the kids starting at 6:30. The whole day, mama watoto had him run errands. Very little to eat. Jioni, he is running political errands paka 11p. No surprise when such accidents happen.