By James Omoro

Three soldiers from Homa Bay county who were reportedly missing due to terror attack in Somalia have been confirmed dead.

The late soldiers, namely Isaiah Mwanja, 30, Wyclief Oguta, 26 and Michael Owino 20 were identified with physical appearance on their body parts including fingerprints.

The family members of the late soldiers said they expected to meet their loved ones after the El Adde camp attack but their expectations failed.

At Kadie Village, Kowuor Location in Rachuonyo South sub county, the family of Mwanja received information about the demise of their son with shock.

Mwanja’s elder brother George Mwanja said they received information about the brother last Sunday.

“My brother has been missing since the attack but we thought he might have been abducted or escaped to an unknown destination. But it is unfortunate my brothers in Nairobi have told us that the Government communicated to them officially on Sunday that Isaiah is dead,” said George.

The late Mwanja used to serve at Kahawa Baracks before he was given the special assignment in Somalia.

At Koguta Village in Lambwe Ward, in Mbita sub county, the family of Wyclief Oguta was full of grief after the death of their loved one.

Wyclief’s elder brother William Oguta said they received information about demise of his brother one week ago.

William said his brother was identified using finger prints even though a DNA test was conducted but results had not been released.

The family expressed concern the Government was taking too long to release to them their body of their loved one.

“We planned to bury my brother last Monday but we were deterred because the Government was awaiting DNA test results.

We are appealing to the Government to speed up the process of undertaking the DNA test so that we can finalise the sendoff as soon as possible,” William said.

He said the issue had deterred the entire family from undertaking any economic activity.

Oguta joined the Kenya Defense Force in 2010 and had been serving at a KDF barracks in Eldoret.

Meanwhile, at Lwanda Village in Kasgunga Ward in Mbita sub county, the family of Michael Owino is traumatised.

Owino’s uncle Nicholas Ajwang’, said they received information about his nephew’s death more than a week ago.

Ajwang’ says his nephew was also identified with fingerprints besides undertaking DNA test.

He expressed concern that the Government was delaying their receiving the body of their beloved one.

“We planned to bury him last Saturday of February 13, 2016 but the Government refused to release the body on condition that there are some technicalities which it would communicate later but it has not done so. We want the Government to tell us when we can receive the body because it had taken very long before we knew the fate of this young,” said Ajwang’.

He said delay in burying the young man was causing the family more trauma. Owino was serving at a KDF barracks in Eldoret before being assigned to Somalia.

Source: Standard Digital