Two men drowned in Nzoia River as they were escaping from police who were conducting a crackdown on illicit brew in Kitale, Uasin Gishu County.
Musa Wanjala and Alex Khisa were on their way home when they met officers from Kitale Police Station near Moi's Bridge.
Before they could be arrested, they decided to jump into the river and efforts by local divers to rescue them proved futile as they both died.
The story, however, took an unusual turn when the divers refused to hand over the bodies unless they were given Sh30,000, a cow and black sheep.
They stated that their unique demand was aimed at appeasing spirits to prevent the bad omen from befalling their families.
"It is not for prestige that we are demanding a sheep and a cow.
"This is meant to help us conduct rituals that will stop any bad spirits from harming our families," said one of the divers.
The area's Member of County Assembly Simon Makhamu helped to raise the amount they had demanded and the divers eventually released the bodies.
He, however, blamed the police for the two deaths saying the deceased were innocent.
"These men are innocent. They do not drink alcohol...Let them tell us why," he reiterated.
Kitale OCPD Jackson Mwenga, however, declined to comment on the matter saying he had not received any complaint.
