In the nascent months of 2024, Kenya has been gripped by a staggering rise in untimely deaths, particularly among the youth demographic, with road accidents emerging as a leading cause of concern. According to statistics released by the National Transport and Safety Authority (NTSA) as of 28th February, a staggering 649 lives have been lost in road accidents within the past two months alone.
Tragically, this trend has claimed the lives of prominent individuals like Kelvin Kiptum, a marathoner and world champion record holder, who perished in a road accident on 11th February alongside his coach. Similarly, the recent loss of TikTok sensation Brian Chira in a fatal road collision has further underscored the gravity of the situation.
The somber mood deepened with the devastating news of 11 comrades from Kenyatta University losing their lives in a tragic accident involving a school bus and a trailer on Mombasa Road near Voi. With 42 others sustaining injuries, the nation mourns the loss of promising young lives.
In the wake of these heartbreaking incidents, Kenyans have taken to social media platforms to speculate on the underlying causes behind the surge in road accidents. One theory gaining traction links the spike in fatalities to the departure of Israeli-Canadian televangelist Benny Hinn, following his mega crusade at Nyayo Stadium on 24th-25th February 2024.
A tweet lamenting “So many road accidents after Benny Hinn left the country I am not trying to be supersticious but let’s hope The Mighty Prophet Owour’s Mega crusade will change the harrowing trend.”has sparked discussions on the controversies of people not believing he is a true Minister of God.
“Hauskii Benny Hinn ndio anafanya hizo accident zote zifanyike naskia anatutoa kama sacrifice,” another X user alleged.
“Why did you bring Benny Hinn to Kenya?We’re now suffering accidents and deaths as a result of his coming to Kenya.We need to repent for having mocked Christianity, religion and God,” read another comment.
Kenyans are just funny now that Benny Hinn came to this country the other day all the blames on the poor state of Kenyan roads which lead to all this accidents have been shifted to him instead of the relevant ministry? 💀💔
— Dreamer™ (@dreamer254_) March 19, 2024
Adding to the intrigue is the Sanpaku eyes theory, which gained prominence following Kelvin Kiptum’s tragic demise. Sanpaku eyes, characterized by a significant white part visible between the iris and the eyelid, are believed to be associated with tragedy and violence. The notion that individuals with “yin sanpaku” – where the sclera is visible beneath the iris – are more prone to illness or tragic death has fueled speculation among the public.
In a twist, TikTok has come under scrutiny, with some attributing the majority of road accident fatalities to users of the platform. The sentiment was echoed by a young man who advocated for a return to the days of using Facebook, citing a perceived correlation between TikTok and the surge in tragic deaths.
” Tumefanya uchunguzi, tukapata wenye wanakufa zaidi ni Sisi ww tiktok. ajali zote ni Sisi watu ww tiktok ndio kunakufa zaidi. So hatujui next ni Nani anakufa. Tunaomba mwenye kampuni ya tiktok toa tiktok. Tulikuwa Facebook watu hawakukuwa wanakufa ovyoovyo” Omosh one hour declared.
Amidst these theories, calls for national unity and prayer have resonated across social media platforms. Youth are urged to pray fervently, while drivers are implored to exercise caution and adhere to road safety regulations. The collective grief and introspection spurred by these incidents serve as a poignant reminder of the fragility of life and the imperative of collective action to safeguard the well-being of all citizens.