Twenty-three-year-old Cecilia Achieng, a rising TikTok star and recent graduate, lost her life in a tragic accident along Thika Road on Friday night.
What began as an ordinary late-night trip for Nairobi-based online taxi operator, Patrick Muthami, quickly turned into a nightmare he would never forget. Shortly after midnight on Friday, Muthami accepted a ride request that would take him to Ruiru.
When Muthami arrived at Ronald’s house, he was instructed to wait for two girls, though only one was supposed to be ferried to her house in Juja.
“I proceeded to pick the girls, although the cab was requested by a gentleman called Ronald,” Muthami said.
After a while, Cecilia and her friend Sally, showed up, both appearing intoxicated after spending the evening together. The group encountered payment difficulties when Cecilia’s M-Pesa account was blocked after multiple incorrect PIN attempts.
Ronald eventually paid for Cecilia’s trip, and she climbed into the back seat of the vehicle, swaying slightly and unaware that just hours later she would lose her life.
On the way to the destination, Muthami observed that Cecilia’s intoxicated state was worsening, and her behavior became increasingly unpredictable. As they approached the Ruiru flyover, the situation deteriorated rapidly.
“She then held my shirt tightly from behind. I then held her hand and parked by the roadside and called Ronald,” Muthami said.
Prioritizing safety, the driver stopped the vehicle and contacted Ronald, making it clear he was uncomfortable continuing the trip alone under these circumstances. He requested that Ronald and Sally join them at a pedestrian bridge on Thika Road, hoping their presence might help stabilize Cecilia.
However, Cecilia refused all phone communication with her companions. About an hour later, disaster struck. Cecilia stepped out of the taxi and began walking along the busy highway, apparently trying to return to her friend’s home. A passing vehicle struck and killed her.
“She stepped out of the vehicle and started heading towards her friend’s house and that’s where the accident occurred,” Muthami stated.
News of Cecilia’s death reached her family in Kisumu on Monday. For a family already grieving the loss of their father in a previous accident, losing their youngest daughter was devastating. Cecilia’s brother immediately traveled to Ruiru Police Station, where officers confirmed the heartbreaking news.
“The police officers told us that there was an accident that was reported. Actually, the person who had hit her had reported to Juja Police Station but was taken back to Ruiru Police Station because the incident occurred in their area of work,” James Otieno, Cecilia’s brother, recounted.
Cecilia’s mother reflected on her daughter’s compassionate and generous nature, grieving not only the loss of her youngest child but also the unfulfilled potential and ambitions Cecilia carried. The young woman had recently completed her studies and was actively growing her online presence, steadily gaining followers and recognition on TikTok.
Still visibly affected by the ordeal, Patrick Muthami has spoken out about the risks of excessive alcohol consumption among young people. He characterized the incident as symptomatic of an alarming pattern affecting today’s youth, calling for more responsible behavior.
“Young people, especially the female gender, should be talked to in order to stop drug consumption since it is affecting them more. You’ll end up losing your life due to drugs,” Muthamia stated.
