The family of 29-year-old John Akwach, who is yet to be retrieved from Abimbo goldmine in Siaya County is calling on the government to help them.
According to the family, the rescue team and the county government of Siaya have neglected them following the incident that happened 10 days ago.
They say there has been no fuel to be used by the machines that are helping with retrieving bodies since the last retrieval on Monday where three bodies were found.
The incident had left four persons trapped after the collapse of the mining wall in Abimbo village, Bondo sub-county .
Three were rescued on Wednesday morning as search for the fourth person continues.
The family of the of the man still trapped in the mine cries out:
“Since Monday when the three people were retrieved from the collapsed shaft, fuel has been a problem and the machines work occasionally. Those who were being involved in the work of ensuring they’re removed got tired and left. There is no food, people cannot work without food,� Akwach’s brother narrated.
He says there is still an opportunity of retrieving his brother because the machines are there.
“There’s an opportunity of retrieving my brother,� he continued.
They have given their pleas to the national government to at least fund them and enable them to retrieve him.
Reports of the shaft collapsing were first reported on the 3rd of December, where a total of eight people were said to be trapped 300 feet underground.
According to David Orido who is the manager of the mining site, the artisanal gold miners were on their routine mining expedition when the walls of the shaft crumbled, trapping them inside.
“The shaft crumbled after the reinforcement on its walls collapsed,� Orido noted.
