Siaya family camps by River Yala for weeks in frantic search for drowned son

Under a tent by the banks of River Yala, a family sits in quiet vigil, eyes swollen from sleepless nights, hearts heavy with sorrow.

Since May 24, they have camped at this spot in Ndiwo village, Usigu Sub-County, praying that the river will return the body of 21-year-old James Ochieng. He drowned while attempting to cross the swollen waters to retrieve cattle, a routine chore turned tragic in the absence of a bridge.

His father, Johannes Okinyo, speaks in a weary tone: “We can’t bury a banana trunk and call it our son. That would be like denying he ever existed.”

Okinyo and his wife have refused to leave the riverbank, braving cold nights under makeshift shelters. “This is where our son was taken. We won’t leave until we find him,” he says.

Local residents say Ochieng’s death is part of a larger pattern. A footbridge that once stood here collapsed five months ago, claiming a life.

Since then, villagers have relied on unstable canoes to cross the river, especially during the rains.

“We were promised a new bridge by Governor Orengo, but nothing has been done,” says resident Oliver Odongo. “This bridge is not a luxury; it’s a necessity.”

The family spends over Sh2,000 daily on fuel and boat operator fees, and also feeds volunteers diving into the river to search, often without proper gear.

Despite support from local leaders, the search has taken a steep emotional and financial toll. For the Okinyos, closure remains out of reach.

“We are Christians, but we also respect our traditions,” says James’s mother. “A person must be returned to the earth with dignity, not symbolised by a banana stalk.”