A distressed mother and her family have pitched camp next to Abimbo mine in Bondo, Siaya County where their kin’s body lies.
Tom Okwach has been trapped in the mine since it collapsed on December 2, 2021.
The 35-year-old worked as a gold miner at the mine. On the day it collapsed, 10 miners were trapped. Eight of them survived, one was found dead while Mr Okwach was in communication with the rescue teams for six days, until December 8.
He informed the teams of his exact location in the collapsed mine. He had mentioned that the water level was rising saying that he had moved to a safer place. Based on this information, the rescuers were convinced it would take a few hours or days to find him.
It was not until it started raining, resulting in soil and rocks collapsing that the mission was dimmed almost ‘impossible’. The county disaster management team was reportedly the first to concede defeat on December 17. The rest left shortly after.
Family living near in a tent near mine
The family has since then erected a tent at the mine hoping for a miracle. They depend on relatives and friends to provide food and water for them.
Joyce Achola – Mr Okwach’s mother – suffers from diabetes. The life of the 58-year-old woman is at risk as she has foregone her diet.
“A number of people and organisations that came to help with the rescue have been withdrawing their services and now we watch helplessly,” said a devastated Ms Achola.
Siaya’s County Disaster Management officer George Aola is insistent that they have not abandoned the rescue exercise.
“We are trying our best, I am aware that the rescue activity is not as active as before but that should not mean we have abandoned the exercise. We have made arrangements to have six million shillings allocated for an excavator and rescue team,” he says.
The family hopes to raise money through fundraisers in order to hire an excavator and a team of 40 rescuers.
“Our wish is to bury Okwach at home. We will appreciate the efforts by authorities to help us retrieve his body. My son’s spirit will otherwise never at peace,” lamented Ms Achola.
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