Bungoma, Kisii hardest hit in Garissa massacre

Bungoma and Kisii counties lost the highest number of students in the Garissa University attack last week.

The two counties lost 11 students each. Two families from Bungoma are yet to know the fate of their children.

Trans Nzoia lost nine, Elgeyo Marakwet and Busia five students each in the attack that killed 148 people and left scores of others injured.

In Elgeyo Marakwet, one extended family lost three students. Among those who died from Busia was Lydia Akoth, who was held hostage for seven hours, by Al Shabaab terrorists who later shot her in the head as she spoke with her father on the phone.

Lydia had earlier sent a text message to her mother alerting her of the attack. She then called her to tell her that she was hiding in the female hostels together with five other students but a few minutes past midday, one of the terrorists called her father and told him to have the last chat with his daughter. He then shot her as her father heard over the phone.

Other students from Busia who were felled were Milton Mukhwana from Bulanda in Matayos Sub County, Ruth Esiromo from Teso North, Peter Magio Mulindiro from Bunyala and Obedi Okumu Okodoi from Teso South.

According to Elgeyo Marakwet Senator, Kipchumba Murkomen, his county lost five students, most of whom, will be buried today.  

More than 10 bodies of students who died from the massacre which is the second deadliest in Kenya after the 1998 bomb blast, were collected on Friday for burial in different counties.

Among them, was the body of Angela Nyokabi Githakwa, also known as Jojo, which was taken amid tears and wails from the mortuary to her home village in Kiambu.

The bodies of four students from Baringo county have so far been identified while in Uasin Gishu, four families are mourning the deaths of their kin killed during the attack.

Nyamira and Kisii counties which lost a total of 14 students will on Monday collect their bodies from the Chiromo Mortuary where they have been kept since they were flown from Garissa on Friday last week.

OFFICER FROM RECCE SQUAD

Meru, Bomet and Mombasa counties lost seven, two and two people respectively.

An officer from the Recce Squad, Benard Kipkemoi Tonui who was felled by the terrorists’ bullet also hails from Bomet County.

His father, Simeon Sanga said the officer will be laid to rest Saturday. His body was collected from Kenyatta University Mortuary Friday.

His fellow police officer, Administration Police Constable, Peter Masinde, 29, came from Butere, Mumias in Kakamega County.

He was deployed to the university just three weeks ago.

Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago Friday said that his government will give Sh200, 000 to each of the families from the county that lost their kin.

“It is unfortunate that terrorists could brutally kill young Kenyans who could have been the future leaders in this nation. The county government, has decided to help their family members in financing funeral arrangements,” said Mr Mandago.

At the same time, he challenged political and Muslim leaders from the North Eastern region to identify financiers and sympathizers of Al- Shabaab in a bid to help end terrorism.

Trans Nzoia County has also pledged to help meet the burial expenses its victims.

Deputy Governor Stanley Tarus said the county will pay each family Sh50,000 to help in burial arrangements.

The victims are Diana Musabi, Eliud Wafula, Elizabeth Musinai, Faith Chepchirchir, Isaac Chepkosgei, James Ochode, Obed Okodoi, Oliver Maina and Yvone Makori.

Three students from West Pokot County lost their lives during the siege. Governor Simon Kachapin Friday said that the Garissa tragedy was serious evidence of how Kenyans are vulnerable to terror attacks at any time. The three are, Everlyne Cheyech, Mike Pkemoi Kimuria and Philemon Takaramoi.

Senator Murkomen called for the setting up of a special agency to deal with the frontier counties of Lamu, Tana River, Garissa, Wajir and Mandera.

He proposed that the rank and file of the police should not be recruited on the basis of academic achievement, which he said was counterproductive.

The victims who came from his county were Faith Jepchirchir Komen, Isaac Kirotich Bushen and Joy Jepkorir Kibor from Endo Ward.

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

Two families Friday claimed the body of one of the 142 students killed in the Garissa University College terrorist attack last week.

It was agonising for the two grieving families at Chiromo Mortuary in Nairobi, with each giving a different name for the body they wanted to take home for burial.

Mr William Thuranira, from Meru County said the body was that of his sister Doreen Gakii, 20, a second year Literature student, backing his claim with birth marks, a tattoo on the thigh and her hairstyle.

But Patrick Chitechi from Kakamega County claimed the body belonged to his younger sister, Mildred Chitechi, 22, a second year Art student, insisting he knows his sister well and would not confuse her body with another person’s.

Matters were complicated by a fingerprints report which showed the body was that of a Ms Esther Wambui, believed to be alive in Nyandarua County. Both families now have to wait for two days for the results of a second forensic test.

At the same time, an extended family in Elgeyo Marakwet County has been plunged into mourning after it turned out that it lost three relatives in the attack. Mr Samuel Koech struggled with his emotions as he held a portrait of his brother, Isaac Kosgei Bushen, as two other relatives held those of his cousin, Joyce Chepkorir Kibor and niece Faith Komen.

And the family of Mr Paul Muchiri Murimi said they will bury his daughter, Mary Wanjiru, in Yatta, Matuu tomorrow.

“My daughter started texting me from 6am telling me they were under attack and asked that we pray for her. We kept sending each other text messages until she told me the terrorist had ordered them into one room where they were later slain”.

Mr Karani Kadhengi from Kaloleni in Kilifi County was also at the mortuary to collect the body of his sixth born child Sammy Karani whose young life was snuffed out by the terrorists.

Additional reporting by Samuel Karanja and Grace Ndiba and KNA