Relatives of those rescued not allowed to leave site until all bodies are found

What you need to know:

  • By Tuesday four bodies, two belonging to children, had been recovered, five days after the tragedy.
  • Mr Buluma, who also operates a boat at Siginga, emphasised that even if a family found their beloved one’s body, burial preparations could not take place until all the other bodies are retrieved.
  • Relatives are also not allowed to bathe or change clothes.

Families and relatives of the dead and those who were rescued after the Saturday boat tragedy at Siginga on River Nzoia in Budalang’i are 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.

And no burials will take place until all the victims are found.
According to Banyala tradition, any person who was around the scene where the boat capsized -- swimming, washing clothes or survived the accident -- has to camp at the scene singing and calling out the names of the victims until they are found.

Relatives are also not allowed to bathe or change clothes.
The belief is that anyone who left the place is likely to suffer the same fate.

TUESDAY
By Tuesday four bodies, two belonging to children, had been recovered, five days after the tragedy.

“Tradition demands that families and survivors camp at the scene, sleep there at night singing until all the bodies of the people who drowned are retrieved,” said Mzee Alex Odede Buluma.

Mr Buluma, who also operates a boat at Siginga, emphasised that even if a family found their beloved one’s body, burial preparations could not take place until all the other bodies are retrieved.
He said relatives and well wishers are allowed to cook or bring food for the affected families at the site and even stay with them at night.

“It is a bad omen for the affected families to leave the scene before the rescue team finds all the missing bodies because it’s believed they will die the same death,” he said.

According to residents, if the rescue team fails to retrieve the bodies in the next two weeks, they have to seek the help of sorcerers who will perform rituals at the scene to appease the dead so that they can come out from their “hiding place.”

“The sorcerers will beat drums while calling and praising the names of those who drowned and their bodies will float to the surface,” said Wilfrida Khamala, a villager.