This archive report was first published on 3 November 2019.
Published on November 3, 2019, Mr. Zablon Lumbasia's remarkable story has captured the hearts of many. Dubbed the 'Good Samaritan', he has spent over 45 years retrieving human bodies from rivers in western Kenya.
His journey began when he discovered the body of ICC witness Meshack Yebei from the river Yala, an incident that brought him into the limelight. Mr. Lumbasia's services are often sought by families who have lost loved ones in rivers, and he has been involved in numerous search operations over the years.
According to Mr. Lumbasia, traditional divers like himself operate under a strict code of conduct, refusing to demand specific payment or gifts from bereaved families. 'It is taboo for traditional divers to demand a specific amount of money or even cows after retrieving a body,' he explains.
Mr. Lumbasia has witnessed the devastating impact of drowning on communities, particularly among teachers and students who often return home in the evening. He has also retrieved bodies of illegal timber loggers who drown while attempting to swim across rivers at night.
Before embarking on a search, Mr. Lumbasia and his team perform rituals to ward off bad omens, including slaughtering a black ram and lighting a fire by the riverside. The traditional divers undergo rigorous training to prepare them for the dangers of their job, which requires healthy and bold individuals.
Mr. Lumbasia's bravery has been tested numerous times, including a harrowing incident in 2010 when he was almost attacked by a python while searching for a body in River Yala. He urges Kenyans to exercise caution when approaching large water bodies during the rainy season.
