This archive report was first published on 11 December 2019.
Heavy rains that showered the region on the morning of the interdenominational service served as a stark reminder of the tragedy that struck Nyarkulian, Muino, and Parua villages three weeks ago.
The ceremony at Makutano Stadium was delayed for hours due to bad roads and swept-away bridges, causing the hearses to arrive late and some relatives to miss the last rites of their loved ones.
During the ceremony, speakers accused the national government of dwelling on politics instead of the plight of West Pokot residents, and criticized it for not fixing damaged roads and bridges, effectively cutting off some areas.
The only bridge put up by the Kenya National Highways Authority (KeNHA) has since been swept away by floodwaters.
Among the mourners was Kapel Yaranyang, 43, from Muino area, who lost seven children after they were swept away by the raging waters. However, only three bodies of his children were recovered, and four are still missing.
Yaranyang appealed to the government to help him recover the four remaining bodies, saying, "How will I conduct a funeral for my three children and leave out the other four? What am I burying on behalf of the four bodies?"
Leaders who attended the service appealed to President Uhuru Kenyatta to declare floods and landslides a national disaster, criticizing the state for its poor handling of the humanitarian crisis.
Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa represented the state and assured families that the government would ensure affected families are resettled within the shortest time, noting that floods have affected 30 counties.
He encouraged governors to set aside resources for disaster management to curb deaths in future.
