A family of one of the Lake Nakuru crash victims will perform a special ritual signifying a burial ceremony for the deceased whose body is yet to be recovered.
Due to the failed search, the family of Sam Gitau noted that they would use a banana stem on his grave to signify a send-off.
The family of John Mapozi, whose body was also not retrieved, could not confirm whether it would abide by the ritual.
They two are among the five individuals alongside Apollo Malowa, Antony Kipyegon and Veronica Muthoni who perished in the October plane crash
The family of Gitau confirmed that they would hold a mass ceremony on the shores of Lake Nakuru and plant a banana as required by the tradition.
[caption caption="File image of wreckage of the chopper"]
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"It’s unfortunate that the body of our beloved son cannot be found. Our hopes of finding him have turned into frustration. But we are still praying for a miracle to happen,” Gitau's aunt, Elizabeth Njeri stated.
The Ministry of Sports Public and Relations Officer, Richard Abura, also weighed in on the matter to Kenyans.co.ke, stating that the families agreed to oblige on the matter.
"It is up to the family members to plan for the ritual which should signify their send off," he stated.
Through its Twitter account, the Ministry of Sports also stated: "In most of Kenya's 44 Communities, when a person dies or disappears without a trace, a banana stem is planted in a grave during the burial ceremony. There is an on-going scenario where 2 of 5 Helicopter crash victims in Lake Nakuru are missing."
Lake Naivasha Boat Owners Association chairman David Kilo complained that the search mission had been left to local divers and the Kenya Wildlife Service in Nakuru.
“We have tried all possible means to get in touch with the Governor over the rescue mission with no success,” Kilo said.
National Disaster Operation Centre officer Jonathan Kertich noted the search for the bodies will continue until they are retrieved. He attributed the delay to murky waters.
[caption caption="Officers Retrieving wreckage of the chopper"]
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