How a 9-year-old’s brave act saved nine people in tragic Kiama River accident
By Aloys Michael, October 28, 2025A nine-year-old boy from Murang’a County is being celebrated as a hero after his quick thinking and act of bravery helped save nine passengers from drowning in the tragic Kiama River matatu accident.
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Boniface Njoroge, a Grade Three pupil at Getatunguru Primary School, was travelling with his parents in the ill-fated matatu that plunged into the swollen Kiama River along the Kia-Mariba road. According to witnesses, the vehicle was swept away by strong currents after the driver attempted to cross a flooded section of the bridge amid heavy rains.
Boniface, who was seated next to his friend, managed to wriggle free and jump out through a window as the matatu began sinking.
He then rushed to the nearby shopping centre, screaming for help from boda boda riders and traders. His alert drew several villagers who rushed to the scene and began rescuing the trapped passengers using ropes and planks.
“Tulikuwa tunaenda Ruracio Kiambu, tukirudi gari ika loose control kwa Barabara ikaanguka kwa maji mimi nikaruka nikarush kusaidia wengine,” he told a local media publication on Monday, October 27, 2025.
His mother, Alice Wangechi, said that when the vehicle plunged into the river, what began to submerge it, and she thought she had lost her son, but little did she know that it was the boy’s action that would save them.
“Kuna kijine mwingine alikuwa akikaa nay eye uko nyuma, Kiti ya nyuma alafu wakarukia kwa dirisha,sasa kuuliza mtoto yuko wapi nikaambiwa alienda hivyo kwa njia akaitane, Wangechi narrated.
The boy’s father, however, died in the crush.
Peter Gishuru, another survivor, hails Njoroge for his great and first thought that helped save them.
“Alitoka kwa mto akaenda uko juu kwa miti akaita hawa watu wa pikipiki, akasimamisha mmoja akwamwambia mama na baba wako hapa kwa maji ndo watu wakakuja wakaanza kutuokoa,” Gishuru said.
Family members among the dead
At least six people from the same village died after the matatu they were travelling in lost control and plunged into the Kiama River, Muranga County.
The family came from Ndia village in Kariara Ward, Gatanga Constituency, police said.
Six other passengers escaped with injuries and were rushed to the hospital, police said of the incident.
The victims were members of the same extended family returning from a dowry ceremony in the Nazareth area of Kiambu County.
Among the deceased were a husband and wife, police said. The accident occurred at Wacengu Bridge on the River Kiama on Sunday, October 26, 2025. The survivors were taken to Kirwara Hospital and Murang’a Level 5 Hospital.
Police said they are investigating the accident as they moved the bodies of the victims to a local mortuary pending other procedures.