A family in Siaya County is looking for assistance in retrieving the body of a relative who drowned in the River Nzoia 17 days ago.
Relatives have gathered at Thomas Konyango's home in Sigweng Karuoth village, Siaya County.
They come to console his family while awaiting the retrieval of his wife's body.
Irene Apondi's family believes she died on the banks of the River Nzoia two weeks ago. Her family said she had gone to her farm near the river.
The family claims they discovered her clothes by the riverside, leading them to believe she tried to bathe in the fast-flowing, flooded river when the currents became too strong for her.
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This occurred during the heavy rain season, which caused many water bodies to flood and rivers overflowing their banks.
For the past seventeen days, this family has conducted extensive searches along the length and breadth of the river, with no sight of her body.
“Watoto washa jaribu, tumejaribu, lakini tumeshindwa,” said her sister Helida Juma.
Miriam Otieno, her daughter, adds: "The search has been ongoing, but we haven't done anything yesterday or today due to a lack of funds.
Indeed, the search has been costly; every day, the family must hire a boat and pay divers for Ksh.11,000.
Police say they will assist with the search once the water levels have subsided.
For the time being, the family, which is financially depleted, can only hope that the water levels drop enough to allow them to continue searching for their loved one and give her a proper sendoff.
