Standard Group journalist's parents buried in emotional ceremony
Nyanza
By
Stanley Ongwae
| Aug 22, 2025
The burial of Josiah Onyancha and her wife Hellen Onyancha at Ritembu, Bomachoge Borabu in Kisii County. The two who perished in a road accident along Narok Mahi mahiu highway are parents to Standard Media Group 's Edwin Nyarangi and DJ Darius. Kisii Governor Simba Arati, Nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri and Standard Media Group staff are in attendance. [Sammy Omingo, Standard]
A sombre mood engulfed Ritembu Village in Kisii County as the parents of Standard Group journalists Edwin Nyarangi and Darius Biyogo were buried on Friday.
Prof Josiah Biyogo Onyancha and his wife Hellen Moraa died in a road crash along the Narok-Mai Maihu Highway on August 6, 2025.
They were travelling to Nairobi to attend Nyarangi's graduation ceremony on August 11 at Mount Kenya University (MKU), where he was pursuing a master's programme.
The burial of Josiah Onyancha and her wife Hellen Onyancha at Ritembu, Bomachoge Borabu in Kisii County. The two who perished in a road accident along Narok Mahi mahiu highway are parents to Standard Media Group 's Edwin Nyarangi and DJ Darius. Kisii Governor Simba Arati, Nominated Senator Esther Okenyuri and Standard Media Group staff are in attendance.[Sammy Omingo/Standard] Clearout of long-stay cargo in port decongestion drive hailed Digital lenders accuse Central Bank of overstepping mandate Ensuring best outcomes in poultry processing Safaricom unveils new B-live data bundle Digital lenders lament overreaching mandate from regulators How CBK will monitor your bank transactions in real-time Why Trump is resetting Biden's-era trade talks with Kenya Kenya targets funds from Japan through Samurai Bond issuance State pushes new SEZ reforms, China trade deal to boost exports and jobs Ruto calls for enhanced Intra-Africa trade to combat extreme povertyREAD MORE
Police reports indicated that the couple travelling in a personal car when they rammed a trailer.
The father, who was driving the ill-fated saloon car, died on the spot. The wife, Hellen, died shortly after she was admitted to a hospital.
Standard Group staff led by Political Editor Amos Kareithi, Radio Maisha Editor Ann Njogu and Special Projects Editor Francis Ontomwa were among the mourners who joined the family in giving the couple a deserving send-off.
Standard Group Chief Executive Officer Chaacha Mwita described the late Prof Biyogo as a selfless religious leader who served society through his hard work in both religious duties and academia.
"It is such a bad tragedy losing all parents at the same time through an accident. But my wish is that God helps the family to overcome the immeasurable loss," he said in his message read by Kareithi.
"Their sudden departure has left us all deeply shaken. This is not only a profound loss to your family, but also to the wider community, colleagues, friends, and all who were privileged to know them. Prof. Onyancha and Mrs. Onyancha were people of immense warmth, wisdom, and dignity, who together built a lasting legacy rooted in love, service, and generosity of spirit."
Nyarangi described the death of his parents as a great loss to the family. DJ Darius of Radio Maisha described his late dad as someone with whom he related with not as a father but as an acquaintance.
In a speech read on his behalf, MKU founder and chairman, Simon Gicharu, said the loss is not only personal to the family but also to the entire university fraternity that values the enduring bonds of family and the sacrifices made for education.
He said Nyarangi's outstanding achievement reflects his parents' unwavering love, dedication, and commitment to his future.
“As a university, we stand firmly with Nyarangi and his family during this most painful time. In honour of his parents' legacy and as a gesture of solidarity and hope, Mount Kenya University will extend to Edwin the full opportunity to pursue further studies in any field of his choice,” said Gicharu.
Kisii Governor Simba Arati remembered Prof Onyancha as a man who was a peacemaker and a true servant of God.
Arati recounted how Prof Onyancha reached out to him to shake hands after the results of the 2022 gubernatorial elections were announced.
Prof Onyancha was among the contenders for the 2022 governor's seat in Kisii County. He unsuccessfully vied as an independent candidate.
"After I was declared the winner of the 2022 polls, Prof Onyancha was the first person who reached out to me, and he congratulated me. Ever since, we have respected him as a person who was living with the true spirit of competition," Arati said.