A body of 23-year-old man from Kobuya Location, Homa Bay County, was Tuesday morning retrieved from River Miriu.
George Odhiambo Kisia is said to have slid and fallen into the river on Sunday, January 29 while he was trying to undress himself to take a bath at around midday.
The area Chief Damianus Osano said the body was retrieved by the villagers who had been searching for him for the last three days.
Osano said according to the family members, the late Kisia has been suffering from epilepsy and they suspect that the disease might have caused him to slide into the river.
“Members of the community have from Monday camped along river Miriu in search of the body from Sunday, fortunately, we have managed to receive the body today morning.
“According to the report from the family members, the late Kisia has been suffering from epilepsy and we suspect that on the material day he might have been attacked by the disease leading to his sliding into the waters before being swept away,” the chief said.
The administrator, however, warned families who might have members who are suffering from epilepsy to keep close monitoring and should be barred from getting access to rivers.
He at the same time warned parents against allowing their children to swim or bathe in the river saying this has in the past led to a number of deaths in the area.
He instead told the locals to ensure they fetch water from the river and have a bath at home.
“I want to tell those whose family members might be suffering from various diseases to keep a closer watch on them and not to be allowed to access the river.
“This is not the first case that has been recorded, a number of people who were either bathing or swimming have lost their lives in the past.
“I want to advise our people to avoid taking bath in the river and swimming to avoid such incidents in the future and instead fetch water and bath at home,” the administrator said.
The body has been moved to Rachuonyo Sub-County Hospital mortuary for preservation.
