Pastor's Anguish After Losing Three Children In Lake Baringo Boat Tragedy

Four of those on the ill-fated boat were children of the youths pastor Jane Kikenyia son and three daughters. The boy survived, one daughter died, while the remaining two are still missing.

Pastor Kikenyi explained that her church runs an exchange programme with another in the neighbouring Kokwa Island, where youth from the two churches visit one another once a month for fellowship.

I was meant to accompany the youth for their fellowship, but I was called by our bishop in Kabarnet to attend a meeting the same Sunday. Coincidentally, the host pastor at Kokwa Island church had also been asked to attend the meeting, explained Ms Kikenyi.

While at the Kabarnet meeting, her Kokwa Island counterpart received a call from a church member who informed him about the tragedy.

I was so shocked because not only were my four children among the youths, but the entire group were my church members, the distressed pastor said amid sobs.

When I arrived at the shores of the lake, dozens of locals and government officials were camping waiting for the strong tides to subside so that they could start searching for the missing persons. I saw one body being carried by the Kenya Red Cross and when I inquired from a local about the dressing of the deceased, I suspected it was one of my girls, she said.

She later confirmed it was the body of her 12-year-old daughter.

By the time of going to press, 16 occupants of the ill-fated vessel had been rescued, among them the pastors son, a Form Two student.

Six occupants of the boat were still missing, among them the pastors two daughters. The six bodies were retrieved on Tuesday morning.

I am devastated. It is so tragic to lose three of my four children, said the pastor, a single mother. The two other girls were in Form One and Grade Four.

I am lost for words. I parted with my four children on Sunday morning and we wished each other well as they headed for the fellowship while I headed for the meeting. That turned out to be the last meeting with my three daughters. They usually encourage me that they will work hard so that they can ease my burden of selling firewood for their survival, she said.

Also in distress is the family of Samuel Lekimante from Loropil village. His sister-in-law, who was accompanying the youth, was among the six whose bodies were retrieved on Tuesday.

The team left Salabani at around 10am, and an hour later, we received reports that the boat had capsized. We received reports in the morning that my sister-in-law was among the missing persons, said Mr Lekimante.

This is so tragic because her two children, between seven and two years old, were expecting her back at home in the evening but it didnt happen. As we speak, we do not know what to tell the two minors about their mother, he said.

Samuel Loleina from Loropil village has been camping at the shores of Lake Baringo.

His nephew was among the six missing people. He said his brother, Francis, fell sick after receiving reports that his son was missing.

We are so anxiousMy nephew is the firstborn in a family of four and his father fell ill after receiving the news. This is a very sad incident, he said.

Samuel Montorosi, whose son was rescued, urged the government to fast-track the recovery of the six missing people, raising concerns that the lake is infested with hippos and crocodiles.

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