Kakamega family still searching for drowned kin 6 days later
Residents of Emukhalari in Lurambi Constituency, Kakamega County, are in anguish after days of fruitless search for a man who drowned in River Sasala last Friday.
The family of 65-year-old Julius Amalemba has expressed frustration with the Kakamega County Government, accusing it of failing to assist in the recovery efforts.
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Amalemba was reportedly swept away by the swollen river after a makeshift wooden bridge he was crossing collapsed. Since then, relatives and villagers have been combing the river in vain, hoping to recover his body.
His widow, Oliva Khadui, said her husband was returning home from neighbouring Navakholo Sub-county when tragedy struck.
“There are some people who came to us and demanded Ksh10,000 to help retrieve the body, and villagers raised the funds and paid them, but they failed to accomplish their mission. Villagers have been trying to find the body since, to no avail. We urge relevant authorities to come to our aid,” she said.
Residents have now appealed to Governor Fernandes Barasa’s administration to repair the stalled box bridge project in the area, saying the spot has become a death trap for locals.
According to resident Zacharia Akhonya, the bridge has claimed lives before. “It is not the first time an accident is being reported there. We have rescued at least three people at the same spot before. Something ought to be done to address the situation,” he said.
Another villager, Jared Imbieka, said the governor had previously pledged to fix bridges and impassable roads across the county. “We demand swift action from him,” he added.
Kakamega Mashinani Pastors Fellowship chairman, Zablon Mukoshi, also joined the family in calling on the county government to intervene and help retrieve Amalemba’s body.
