This archive report was first published on 5 May 2020.
On Sunday, a 45-year-old man lost his life in Lumakanda stream after the Aluchio Bridge, which connects Lumakanda and Lugari wards in Lugari Sub County, collapsed.
Leonard Libea, a resident of Vumilia village in Munyuki sub location, was with a friend when he attempted to cross the stream and accidentally slipped in, drowning as his friend fled the scene.
According to his father, Joseph Angaya, Leonard was returning home at around 6:30 pm when the tragedy occurred. Angaya explained that he was informed of the incident by the area village elder, Mr. Benson Ambuka, at around 7 pm, but due to the darkness and ongoing curfew, he was unable to rescue his son.
Angaya stated, 'Our village elder came here at about 7 pm and asked me if Libea had returned home, but when I went to check his house, I found it locked with a padlock. That is when he told me he had received information that he had drowned in the stream.'
Despite initial concerns, Angaya was not worried at first, thinking his son knew how to swim and was safe. However, he grew concerned on Sunday morning when he realized Leonard had not returned.
Angaya and his relatives, neighbors, and friends launched a search for Leonard along the stream, and with the help of local divers, they managed to find and retrieve his body.
Angaya expressed his sadness over the incident, stating that Leonard was with a friend who vanished from the scene after he drowned. He added that Leonard was returning home from a drinking spree in Lugari ward when he met his death.
Due to government directives aimed at curbing the spread of coronavirus, police officers advised the family to swear an affidavit and bury Leonard with only 15 people present at the burial.
Lumakanda location Chief Jeremiah Simiyu urged residents to be more cautious during the season of heavy rains. The tragedy occurred just seven hours after Lugari MP Ayub Savula had commissioned the construction of a new bridge at the scene.
Savula stated that a total of Sh10 million had been allocated for the construction of the bridge to ease communication and transport between the two wards. The Aluchio bridge collapsed two weeks ago due to heavy rains, cutting off transport between Munyama and Vumilia villages in Lumakanda ward and Lumama and Shilongo villages in the neighboring Lugari ward.
