We feel abandoned, family of trapped Siaya miner says

As millions of Kenyans celebrated Christmas, the family of trapped miner Tom Okwach continued to camp in Abimbo village, still hoping to see him.

Mr Okwach, 35, was one of 10 men buried alive when a gold mine collapsed on December 2.

Eight were pulled out alive but one died. Mr Okwach remains buried 25 days after the incident.

Family members on Monday appealed to the government and other relevant authorities to help retrieve him from the pit.

“We only want to find him. It is our wish to give him a decent burial on the family land if he is dead,” Mr Okwach’s father,  Martin Sikuku, said.
Unlike past festive seasons, the family could not dine nor make merry on Christmas Day.

Mr Okwach’s relatives remained under a tree near the collapsed mine as several people joined them and offered prayers on December 25.

“We spent Christmas praying for our son though no one can tell if he is still alive. We hope God will answer our prayers soon,” Mr Sikuku said.
He added that donations from well-wishers are diminishing and the family members sometimes sleep hungry.

Even with the Siaya county government pulling out of the rescue operations, the family has remained at the site.

“Our customs and traditions don’t allow us to go back home or celebrate when a relative is still buried. We will remain here until Okwach is taken out,” Mr Sikuku said.

According to the elderly man and his relatives, the devolved government has turned its back on the family.

Services rendered

County government excavators left the site when the Mining Society of Kenya took over the search and rescue operations two weeks ago.

“The county government rescue team took away the machines and pumps that were being used to supply air to the mines,” Mr Sikuku said.Kenya Red Cross, police, ambulance and other rescue teams also left, leaving the work to villagers.

When the excavators left, the devolved government gave Sh100,000, which was used to hire another excavator for Sh60,000 while Sh30,000 went to the rescuers.

Mr Sikuku said a new excavator taken to the site was driven away a week ago, leaving volunteers to carry on with the rescue.
Before the excavator left, some Sh60,000 was raised to pay its owner for the services rendered, he said.

“We have not witnessed serious rescue activities in the last two weeks,” Mr Sikuku said, adding that he hopes the young volunteers don’t leave.
Contacted, Mr George Aola, a member of the Siaya County Disaster Management Unit, said his team is still involved in Mr Okwach’s rescue efforts. He added that the family has not been abandoned.

Mr Aola said the county government set aside Sh200,000 for the operation before Christmas.

He added that the county excavators were withdrawn because of the danger posed by the weak ground.

Mr Aola said the excavators were replaced by the young volunteers.

“The operations are ongoing. We will  continue working closely with the family until the miner is found,” Mr Aola said.

Amounts said to have been spent

25: The number of days Tom Okwach has remained buried in the mine.

35: The age of the trapped miner.

Sh100,000: The amount the county government gave out for rescue operations when the excavators left.

Sh200,000: What devolved unit says it set aside for the rescue before Christmas.

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