Three young Arusha residents, all employees of a city-based development and environmental NGO, OIKOS East Africa, perished in a fatal road accident that occurred in Same District, Kilimanjaro Region late last week, while on their way to Tanga for official business.
According to the Kilimanjaro Regional Police Commander (RPC), Mr Simon Maigwa, the crash occurred at around midnight on April 27, 2026 as their Toyota Land Cruiser allegedly veered into the opposite lane and collided with a Kenyan-registered bus, owned by Tahmeed Coach Services that was travelling to Nairobi from Dar es Salaam.
The deceased were identified as Land-use Planning Officer, Ms Haikasia Minja (28), who was due to turn 29 this month, Community Development Officer, Fridolin Nziku (28) and an intern, Ms Tumaini Laizer (27). Two other persons were injured in the accident. Police mentioned them as Gloria Samwel Laizer (25) and Erick Ngonga Otieno (38), a Nairobi resident who was a passenger in the bus.
Police were holding the Land Cruiser driver, one Boniphace Olenjoro, for questioning as part of ongoing investigations. He will be arraigned once investigations were completed. The police made no mention of his physical condition.
Colleagues described the deceased as dedicated experts whose work had started to show meaningful results in northern zone communities. The deaths left colleagues, families and members of the public devastated.
“We are profoundly saddened by the untimely passing of three dedicated staff members of OIKOS East Africa,” an agency official said.
“This is a painful loss not only to your organisation, but to all who had the privilege of knowing and working with the deceased,” a message of condolences from the Rural Water Supply and Sanitation Agency (RUWASA) from Manyara Region read in part. It mourned the deaths as “a significant loss to the development community.”
In a social media message, OIKOS East Africa described the trio as valued members of the organisation. “They were known for their dedication, integrity and kindness. Their contributions and positive spirit left a lasting impact on everyone who had the privilege to work with them,” the message read in part.
