A sorrowful mood has engulfed Munyuki village in Lumakanda location after a 48 year old man drowned in river Kipkaren.
According to Mr. Peter Ipapo, his brother Patrick Chironga was attempting to cross the river through the water from Munyuki to Musembe across in the neighboring Chekalini location before he slipped on a stone inside the water and drowned.
He said the deceased who was a specialist herbalist in treating various livestock diseases had been contacted by several farmers in Musembe and after preparing his concoction, he was going to treat their animals when he met his death.
Local divers have launched a search for his body with the family appealing to the County government of Kakamega and the national government to help get expert divers who will help retrive the body.
According to residents, it’s costly to use a motorbike from Munyuki to Musembe, a move that has forced some of them to risk their lives by crossing through the river.
“Instead of spending Kshs 600 and then be taken all the way to Kipkaren of Lugari station some of us opt to cross trough the river so that we can save money for other basics,” they said.
However they accused local leaders for lying to them about construction of a modern crossing across the river after a footbridge they were relying on was destroyed about four years ago.
“In this year alone we have lost five people while attempting to cross this river. How many lives must be lost for our leaders to respond to our cry to put a crossing on this river?” posed a resident.