A recent discussion online has brought back public attention to a road accident that happened more than ten years ago and involved a senior corporate leader in the region.
The matter resurfaced after blogger Cyprian Nyakundi shared details on X about an incident linked to Sylvia Mulinge, who is currently the CEO of MTN Uganda.
His post revived questions that many feel were never fully answered, especially around justice, accountability, and how such cases are handled in Kenya.
The incident dates back to February 1, 2015, along the Southern Bypass in Nairobi. On that day, a tragic accident claimed the life of an eight-year-old girl, Mary Kusa Etale.
At the time of the crash, Mulinge was driving a Toyota Prado from the Ngong Road side toward Lang’ata Road. The child was crossing the road when she was hit and later died from her injuries.
Mulinge reported the accident to Lang’ata Police Station the same day and recorded her statement the following day.
Early police investigations indicated that the driver might not have been to blame. Authorities noted that the area had barriers and a wall meant to prevent pedestrians from crossing the road. There was also an underpass nearby designed for safe crossing, along with warning signs discouraging vehicles from stopping.
Based on these findings, no charges were brought immediately after the accident.
The case took a new turn in 2017 when the International Centre for Policy and Conflict filed a petition asking the court to review the matter. The group argued that the case had not been properly handled and pushed for fresh investigations. This led the Director of Public Prosecutions to order that Mulinge be charged with causing death by dangerous driving under the Traffic Act.
Mulinge challenged this move in court, arguing that the decision to charge her was unfair and influenced by pressure from outside groups. She maintained that there was no new evidence to justify reopening the case. In her court filings, she stated that she had reached an out-of-court settlement with the child’s family and paid them 950,000 shillings.
According to her, the family accepted the money and agreed not to pursue further legal action, including criminal charges.
However, members of the victim’s family later disputed this account. They claimed that they only received 200,000 shillings, far less than what had been promised.
This difference in figures has continued to fuel public debate and mistrust, with many questioning what the true agreement was and whether the family felt pressured to accept the payment.
The legal process went through several stages, including an inquest at the Kibera Law Courts. In January 2018, the High Court allowed the lobby group to participate in the case and ordered that the girl’s parents be formally included in the proceedings.
The court emphasized that justice required hearing all sides and warned against prosecutions driven by improper motives or external pressure.
Over the years, the story has resurfaced whenever Mulinge has taken up new leadership roles. In 2018, when she was set to assume a top job at Vodacom Tanzania, her work permit was denied, and some observers linked that decision to unresolved questions surrounding the accident.
Now, with her role at MTN Uganda, Nyakundi’s post has once again pushed the matter into the public eye.
Online reactions have been emotional and divided. Many users expressed anger and disappointment, arguing that powerful individuals often escape full accountability.
Others questioned how someone connected to such a tragedy could continue to rise professionally without a clear conclusion to the case.
Beyond one individual, the incident reflects wider concerns about road safety, justice, and inequality in Kenya. Poor families, especially from areas like Kibera, often face difficult choices after tragedy.
While the courts addressed parts of the case, no public record shows a final conviction. For many Kenyans, the death of young Mary Kusa Etale remains a painful reminder of unanswered questions and the long search for justice.
Add Comment