A sorrowful mood has enveloped Lugari station village in Lugari location, Lugari Sub County after the body of a 78 year old granny was discovered floating on water in Kipkaren River under unclear circumstances.
The body of Veronica Mukambwa Lihavi was discovered by a young boy who was crossing the river on the Lugari station railway bridge from Lugari station village to Mapengo village across in the neighbouring Chekalini location.
“I was on the bridge going to pluck sugarcane on the opposite side of the river and when I looked in the river I saw the body floating on the water,” said the boy who rushed back to inform the villagers.
The area village elder, Jane Nanyama and who is a neighbor to the deceased said the granny lives alone with nobody to help her adding that she always gives milk every morning and she never told her if there was anything disturbing her.
“Today I gave her milk in the morning as usual and left her in a jovial mood. She didn’t tell me if she had any problem,” said Nanyama.
She said when she received information about the body that had been discovered in the river she rushed to the scene and she was shocked to see it donned in clothes that the granny was wearing in the morning.
“Since the body was still in the water I rushed to her compound where I found her door and windows wide open, I tried to call but there was no response. That’s when I confirmed she was the one, ” added the village elder.
Confirming the incident, Chekalini location chief Julius Mpapale said the body was retrieved at Mapengo village, Koromait Sub Location before it was identified to be of the granny from the neighbouring Lugari location.
He said the body had visible injuries on the forehead suspected to have resulted from hitting the stones as it was being swept down the river.
He however, regretted that the granny had been abandoned by her family and was living under the mercy of neighbours.
He appealed to the members of the public to respect and take care of the elderly.
The body was removed from the scene by officers from Lumakanda police station and taken to Kimbilio mortuary in the neighboring Uasin Gishu County as they launched investigations into the incident.
