The rescue team searching for six bodies of a youth group whose boat capsized on Sunday in Lake Baringo has ended the mission after retrieval of six bodies that were still unaccounted for.
The mission that begun on Sunday afternoon, after a motorboat that was ferrying 23 youths from Salabani en-route to Kokwa Island capsized midway.
Sixteen youth were rescued the same evening and a body was also recovered, whereas a search for the six missing persons by a multi-agency team has been going on till yesterday morning when the bodies became buoyant.
The youth aged between nine and 17 years, were going for a church activity on the Island when the tragedy struck.
The six bodies were found early morning yesterday and transferred to Baringo County referral hospital mortuary for preservation, awaiting burial.
Among the bodies recovered were those of the three children of Pastor Jane Kikenyi of Kabukoki Revival Church.
Baringo County Commissioner (CC), Stephen Kutwa, who oversaw the rescue mission, said the government is going to put-up a raft of measures to minimize instances of such cases from occurring in the future.
“A Kenya Maritime Officer is on the ground to access the gaps, while coast guards have been asked to tighten their belts in enforcing regulations on matters transport in the lake,” said Mr. Kutwa.
The administrator also said that the County government has been called upon to fast track the training of coxswains, as there are only two trained and licensed coxswains in lake Baringo with scores of others operating the boats without requisite expertise.
He added that families of victims have been supported with food, as they prepare for burial even as the County government through the Deputy Governor, Eng. Felix Kipng’ok, promised to waive all the expenses at the County Referral Hospital.
By Christopher Kiprop
