Family of GSU officer killed in Naivasha tragedy speaks out

Family of GSU officer killed in Naivasha tragedy speaks out

As the identification process continues at the Chiromo Mortuary, families continue to camp awaiting news of their loved ones.

A somber mood continues to engulf the Chiromo, with mothers being given priority followed by brothers and sisters in the DNA testing samples.

Here we meet Jecinta Abei Eremon a mother of five and a mother to the late GSU special officer Barnabas Mele of No.97344 PC.

Mele was among the 11 GSU personnel who were part of a team that guarded President Uhuru Kenyatta and among the 43 who perished in the tragic Karai accident in Naivasha on Saturday night.

barnabas-mele

The 30-year-old who has served in the unit since 2011 was also expecting his first child this December.

Jacinta, who seemed distant, old Citizen Digital that she only got news of her son’s demise on Sunday, something she says is yet to sink.

jecinta

“I am waiting to see it for myself and I am not afraid. I will wait until I’m allowed to see my son,” said a distraught Jacinta

Jacinta, who had travelled from Turkana, further revealed that Mele was the only educated child in her home and was also the sole provider.

While she referred to him as not only her son but friend and husband of her home, Jacinta expressed her hopelessness saying she doesn’t know how to move on from there.

“Communication to me has only been through the media, nobody from the government has come to me or to talk to my family regarding this matter,” said Jacinta.

She was accompanied by Mele’s cousin, Michael Kaatho, who was the last person to speak to Mele before his untimely death.

Mr Kaatho told Citizen Digital that he spoke to the deceased at 1pm on Saturday while he was on his way from Bomet to Nairobi.

He further narrated that after learning about the accident, he tried to reach him but he was unreachable.

mike

He then called a friend and colleague of Meele’s who confirmed the sad news.

“We came to Chiromo only to be told that the body was burnt beyond recognition and it will only be possible to do so after DNA results,” said Kaatho.

“ I wanted to see it for myself so that I believe it,” added Kaatho.

The painful wait continues after Nathan King’otho, the National Disaster Operation Center director announced that the DNA results would be released after two weeks.

DNA

According to King’otho, for some, it might take even longer owing to the bodies’ condition but promised to subject all 43 bodies to DNA testing.

DNA

Meanwhile, the center continues to offer counseling services to affected families at Chiromo morgue.

The gruesome accident occurred when a Canter transporting flammable materials from Mombasa to Uganda rammed into several vehicles before bursting into flames.

Naivasha tragedy
The scene of Naivasha tanker fire tragedy. Photo/ Courtesy

Tags:

accident President Uhuru Kenyatta NAIVASHA GSU tanker chiromo karai Naivasha tragedy 11 GSU officers 43 dead Barnabas Mele of No.97344 PC. Jecinta Abei Eremon Michael Kaato Nathan King'otho National Disaster Operation Center director

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