Four more bodies of musicians who drowned in Lake Victoria recovered

Four more bodies of musicians who drowned in Lake Victoria on Saturday have been recovered on the second day of the recovery efforts that had been slowed down by bad weather and lack of specialised equipment.

This brings to eight the total number of bodies retrieved so far.

A team of fishermen from Siaya and Kenya Maritime Authority (KMA) officials were Tuesday still searching for one more body.

Siaya Governor Cornel Rasanga, who visited the scene of the tragedy, accused the national government of failing to offer any support.

“I am very disappointed with the national government of not coming [out] to help,” he said.

He also blamed the national government for lack of policies to regulate transport on the lake.

However, Deputy County Commissioner Albernus Ndisi dismissed the allegation, saying the government had offered security and moral support.

STOP BLAME GAME

“Let us stop the blame game. Our security team has been at the scene of the tragedy. If they do not consider that support, then I don’t know what they want,” he said.

The first four bodies were retrieved on Monday afternoon.

The bodies of Lavender Awinga, 19, and three others, two men and a woman, who were yet to be identified, came afloat Monday afternoon.

Mr Ndisi said the operation had been successful due to cooperation between locals and officials of the KMA.

He said seven boats had been deployed to help in the search.

The leader of the recovery team, William Otieno, told the Nation on Tuesday that they expected to pull out the remaining body by the end of the day.

He also said that Luo customs dictated that the recovered bodies could not be taken to the mortuary until all the others were found.