A Mombasa man who was set to wed his long-time partner early next year is now grieving after she perished in the road accident that claimed the lives of Catholic pilgrims travelling to the Subukia Shrine in Nakuru County.
Leonea Baraza had paid dowry for his fiancée, Veronica Ngandi, in August this year, and the two had earmarked February for their wedding ceremony.
Both had received blessings from their respective families and were on course to formalise their union when tragedy intervened.
Mombasa couple’s last phone call
On the evening of the journey, Baraza spoke to Veronica when she reached Manyatta at around 8 pm, just to check that she was safe.
She later called him again from Mtito Andei, and the two spoke. But when he tried to reach her at around 9 pm, the calls went unanswered.
“I called, but she did not pick up. The phone was ringing, but she wasn’t answering. I called a second time. It was still ringing, but she did not answer. I called for a third time, but this time the phone was no longer going through,” he said.
Baraza assumed she had dozed off from the fatigue of a long journey and went to sleep. The following morning brought devastating news instead of a return call.
“I woke up and called her again, but she still did not answer until I received news of the accident,” he said.
Veronica and Baraza’s wedding plans fall apart
Veronica had been among the group of faithful from St Matthias Mulumba Catholic Church who were seen off by fellow parishioners before departing for the Subukia Shrine. She and Baraza had been engaged since 2024.
Speaking about the wedding they had planned together, Baraza said the loss had shattered everything they were building.
“I had been given the go-ahead by our parents to continue with the wedding plans, and I was planning to hold the wedding in February. Those plans have now fallen apart. It was a shock,” he said.
He added that nothing had prepared him for such a moment.
“It was very sad because I never expected something like this. I did not know that Friday, the day we spoke in the morning, would be the last time I would talk to her. It was truly heartbreaking.”
By the time of reporting, nine of the 17 bodies from the accident had been transported back to Mombasa. An organising committee had begun holding meetings to coordinate next steps with the affected families.
“After this meeting, we will meet with the families. Once we have met the families, we will be able to confirm the programme that will follow,” a committee member said.
