Two people who are brothers have been killed in a fatal road accident at Tangakona market in Nambale sub county Busia county. The duo, Philip Okumu aged 58 and the first born son in their family, and Peter Ananius Aluku aged 30 years, the last born in their family, were riding a motorbike going back home after watching a football match at Tangakona market at 10pm when they were knocked down by a lorry ferrying alcohol.
One died on the spot while the other one passed on while undergoing treatment at Busia County referral hospital. Family members led by their wives Roseline Okumu and Ann Nekesa were teary and lost for words when West Media visited their home on Monday morning. Ann failed to gather energy to talk while Roseline gave details of her last moments with her husband Philip who is also Okatekok sub parish catechist, “He left home in the afternoon and at around six in the evening he called me telling me to switch on television for the children to watch. Then at around nine at night I received a phone call from a strange number that my husband had been knocked down by a lorry at Tangakona. I rushed there and found him still alive but his brother had already died. We took him to Busia referral hospital where the doctors started attending to him but all over sudden his condition changed and he coughed thrice before closing his eyes and that is how he died.”
Okatekok sub parish secretary Emmanuel Sisuma also recalled the last moments he shared with catechist Philip Okumu, “In the morning we were all in church for the Sunday service then at 4pm he came to my place with his younger brother where we stayed until 8pm then they left for Tangakona to watch football. At around 10 o’clock I received shocking news that they had been knocked down by a lorry and one of them was already dead while the other was in critical condition and later died in hospital. It is a big blow to this family and the Okatekok catholic church at large because these were very useful people not only in church and at home but also in the entire community.”
Philip has left behind a wife with nine children while Peter has left behind wife who is eight month pregnant with other two children. Locals at Tangakona market have condemned the driver of the lorry accusing him of over speeding and killing the two at a bump, “The two were on their right side but the lorry’s driver was at high speeding overtaking another vehicle. It’s so unfortunate that he knocked them at a bump where he was supposed to slow down. Despite bumps being erected here drivers are still driving at top speed causing accidents daily and we appeal to the police to take action against the drivers because they cause more deaths,” said a resident.