Two people drown at dawn in Turkana

The vehicle that was washed away as it tried to cross Lomenyenkirionok River in Turkana West early today. [Bakari Ang’ela, Standard]

The bodies of two construction workers who drowned while crossing a bridge in Turkana County on the wee hours of Sunday have been retrieved.

The duo was part of a team of nine construction workers who were travelling in a vehicle when they were swept away as they crossed Lomenyenkirionok River along the Kakuma-South Sudan border road, Turkana West.

According to sources, one of the deceased worked for the China Railway Number Five construction firm while another one worked for a consultancy firm that is engaged in the tarmacking of Kakuma-Lokichogio-South Sudan border road.

A China Railway Number Five official, who sought anonymity, said one of the deceased men was a surveyor while another one was doing menial jobs in the road construction.

He said the vehicle that was swept away belonged to the consultant.

Lokichogio Police Station commander Harrison Mulolwa said the seven road construction workers who survived the tragedy were rushed to the nearby Lopinding Health Centre.

He said the driver of the vehicle was among the survivors.

“The construction workers may have underestimated the waters. We also have reports that the volume of water in the river increased while they were crossing,” the commander said.