Rescuers retrieve 4 bodies of Nzoia boat accident victims

A man sits pensively at the shores of River Nzoia, where a boat capsized, killing nine people. Families and relatives of the dead and those who were rescued after the Saturday boat tragedy were still camping at the scene in line with tradition that demands them to stay at the river bank until all the bodies have been found. PHOTO | TOM OTIENO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • The search mission will go on until the missing five bodies are retrieved.
  • Some of the bodies could have been swept to Lake Victoria which is about four kilometres from the scene of the accident.
  • The ill-fated boat with 18 passengers was heading to Mau Mau from Port Victoria shopping centre when it capsized.
  • It is believed that some bodies could be trapped under a tree stump in the river.

A rescue team has retrieved four bodies of passengers who drowned when an overloaded boat capsized in River Nzoia at Narera crossing point in Budalang’i constituency.

The team, which comprised Port Victoria marine police officers, fisheries department officials and local divers, managed to recover the bodies of Scovia Abungu, 5, Feril Atioeno, 7, Shadrack Ojwang, 9 and 24-year-old Florence Ogonda.

Five more bodies are yet to be found.

Ms Hellen Akello, who lost her three children during the tragedy, wailed in pain upon receiving the bodies of her two kids.

Both were pupils at Rugunga Primary School.

According to the rescue team leader, Stephen Osogo, the search mission would go on until the missing five bodies were retrieved.

Mr Osogo said that four boats were involved in the search, adding that before the weekend, they hoped to retrieve the remaining bodies.

He expressed fears that some of the bodies could have been swept to Lake Victoria, which is about four kilometres from the scene of the accident.

“We call upon the national government and other agencies to come and help in the search for the missing bodies and also give guidance and counselling to the traumatised families and survivors,” he said.

The ill-fated boat with 18 passengers was heading to Mau Mau from Port Victoria shopping centre when it capsized on Saturday, August 30, 2014.

It was being navigated by two inexperienced drivers. Nine passengers were rescued.

Among those still missing include the operators of the boat, Brian Olobo and Vitalis Olobo, both Form Three students at St John Osogo Secondary School.

It is believed that some bodies could be trapped under a tree stump in the river.

The overloaded boat hit the stump before it capsized.

Everlyne Akotch, who lost her only child in the tragedy, has appealed to the government to send a team to help in the search so that she can start burial preparations.

It was tears at Rugunga Primary School when news news reached there that five of its pupils had perished in the accident.