The air in Nyeri was thick with grief as prominent businesswoman Catherine Wambugu bid a final, tearful farewell to her best friend and personal assistant, Terry wa Wambugu. The burial marked the tragic culmination of a week of horror that began with a twisted wreck of metal on the Nyeri-Nyahururu Highway.

Catherine, the founder of Wambugu Apples, stood by the graveside, a figure of strength undone by sorrow. Just days earlier, she had buried her trusted driver, Dominic. Both had perished in the same accident that Catherine miraculously survived. As the casket was lowered, the reality of the loss seemed to hit her afresh, her composure cracking under the weight of the double tragedy.

A Journey Cut Short

The accident occurred on Monday, January 20, when their Toyota Land Cruiser Prado collided head-on with a Mitsubishi Canter lorry. The impact was catastrophic. Photos from the scene showed the luxury vehicle reduced to scrap, a haunting reminder of the fragility of life. Terry and Dominic died on the spot; Catherine walked away with physical bruises that pale in comparison to her emotional scars.

• A Bond Beyond Work: Terry was not just an employee; she was a confidant and a pillar in Catherine's life. "She was the sister I chose," Catherine had earlier posted on social media. "To lose her and Dominic at once is a pain I cannot describe."
• Community in Mourning: Hundreds of mourners, including business associates and local leaders, gathered to pay their respects. The somber mood reflected the high regard in which the trio was held in the community.

Survivors Guilt?

Witnesses at the funeral described heartbreaking scenes as Catherine laid a wreath on Terry's grave. Overcome with emotion, she had to be supported by relatives. It was a raw, human moment—a successful tycoon stripped of her titles, left only as a grieving friend.

As the earth covered the casket, the Wambugu family is left to pick up the pieces. The accident has robbed them of two vibrant souls, but the memory of their dedication will undoubtedly live on in the orchards they helped build.