Strange dream made Likoni tragedy victim dash out of home, his wife Ruth Mueni says

By Murimi Mutiga and Fred Kai

John Mutinda, the Likoni accident victim, allegedly told his wife that he dreamt receiving a phone call from his late father directing him to drive immediately to Mombasa central business district, where they would meet.

Shocked by her husband’s claim, Mutinda’s spouse, Ruth Mueni, said she hid his car key, and pleaded with him to join her in prayers, but Mutinda, a clearing and forwarding agent, allegedly declined to heed his wife’s request, instead embarking on a spirited search for the car key. That happened a few minutes to 4am, according to the widow.

After a determined search for the ignition key, John Mutinda found it and dashed out of their Vanga Estate home, telling his partner he would be back after meeting his father “in town”.

“He, thereafter, drove out in high speed,” Ruth Mueni, a mother of three, told police.

The statement by Mutinda’s spouse was echoed by his relative, Benedict Sila, who told K24 Digital that the middle-aged man hurriedly left home after dreaming -- a few minutes to 4am -- that he was being called by his late father.

At 4:20am Saturday, the Kenya Ferry Services says, Mutinda arrived at the channel, and drove past the ticketing booth despite being ordered to stop. The motorist, who was headed to Mombasa Island from Kwale side, proceeded to the ramp, but there was no vessel to drive into, forcing Mutinda, who was speeding -- according to the Kenya Ferry Services -- to plunge into the Indian Ocean.

John Mutinda’s spouse arrived at the Likoni channel a few minutes after the accident, and was heartbroken to learn that her husband had been involved in the accident.

“She spent hours on the shores of the channel weeping uncontrollably,” said a cop, who was present at the scene.

A concerted effort by the Kenya Ferry Services and the Kenya Navy, among other agencies, to search for the submerged vehicle began in earnest. Mutinda’s body was removed from the car around 8:40am.

His vehicle, a Toyota Allion of registration plate KAX 474B, was retrieved from the ocean a few minutes past noon, Saturday.

The car had plunged 6 meters below the ocean surface, said Kenya Ferry managing director Bakari Gowa.

John Mutinda’s body was taken to Jocham Hospital morgue, whereas his mangled vehicle was towed to Likoni Police Station.

Ruth Mueni told K24 Digital that she never had any wrangles with her husband that could push him to his death.

The couple had three sons (a teenager, who is in high school, and twins aged 5).