Tragic Farewell: GSU and KDF Brothers, Young Family Laid to Rest in Emotional Kilifi Burial

By Ben Okweingoti 

Gahaleni village in Watamu ward, Malindi Sub-County, Kilifi County, was engulfed in grief as the family of two fallen servicemen—one from the General Service Unit (GSU) and another from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF)—laid to rest four loved ones in a deeply emotional ceremony.

The deceased—James Tsofa, a GSU officer, and his brother Willington Tsofa, a KDF soldier—were buried alongside Willington’s wife Patience Mwambire, their newborn baby, and their sister-in-law. All perished in a devastating road accident that also claimed the life of their driver, himself a KDF officer.

The tragedy struck on 6th August 2025 along the Mbaruk area of Nakuru County when the vehicle carrying the family collided with a saloon car before ramming into a truck. The Tsofa family had been returning from hospital after welcoming their newborn when the accident occurred.

During the burial, attended by Kilifi leaders led by Governor Gideon Mung’aro, Kenya Roads Board Chairperson Aisha Jumwa, Malindi MP Amina Mnyazi, and Watamu MCA Ibrahim Abdi Matumbo, speakers mourned the loss of devoted officers who had served the nation with dedication.

Governor Mung’aro paid tribute to the brothers, saying their service had ensured peace and security for Kenyans, while MP Mnyazi noted that the tragedy had united even political rivals. In a rare show of solidarity, Mung’aro shared the podium with his long-time critic Jumwa.

Leaders urged the government to consider employing some family members of the deceased as a gesture of gratitude and support for the officers’ service to the country.

Security at the ceremony was tight, with photography and videography strictly controlled to maintain order and respect for the grieving family.

The mass burial marked a heartbreaking farewell to a family whose lives were dedicated to service—and whose loss has left an unfillable void in their community.