A requiem mass was held for six people who perished in Lake Victoria after their boat capsized last week.
The interdenominational mass was led by Port Victoria parish priest Father David Idodi at Sinyenye Omena beach near Port Victoria town.
During his sermon, Fr. Idodi asked members of the public to pray for the souls of the departed and for the survivors and the affected families, “This is one of the most difficult times. Let us find time to pray for their souls and pray for those who remained behind so that they may have courage to overcome the grief.”
Those who perished include; Brigit Nasirumbi Wanyanya, 9 years old from Buduma in Uganda, Carol Oduor Musumba, 1 year old from Bukoma in Budalangi constituency, Busia County, Evans Okumu Oundo, 38 years old from Bulemia in Budalangi, Sebastian Akuku Kechula 55 years old from Bukoma in Budalangi, Lucy Anyango Jomo, 32 years from Obekai in Teso south sub county and David Muluka aged 47 years from Bukoma village in Budalangi.
They were in a group of twelve people and a coxswain who were ferrying fish and other food stuffs from Sigulu island in Uganda to Marenga and Omena beach in Port Victoria Kenya when their boat capsized after it was hit by strong waves.
Six people survived the ordeal and had to wait in water from 10pm Friday night to 4am Saturday morning before they were rescued.
The weekend mass was also attended by a host of leaders led by Busia County Deputy Governor Moses Mulomi, Bunyala West ward Rep Bartolomeo Were and nominated MCA from Busia County assembly Cynthia Mutere who used the opportunity to request boat users in the lake to adhere to laid down safety rules that would help avert further loss of lives in the lake, “When we enter a matatu we are required to tie seat belts to protect ourselves during accidents, and while in the boat there are safe jackets we are supposed to put on so that we survive in case of an accident like the one which occurred. We should also follow the weather forecast updates keenly and avoid going into the lake when the weather is poor.”