Lawyer Miguna Miguna has slammed Raila Odinga for celebrating his birthday in style while Tom Okwach is still buried in Abimbo gold mine, Siaya.
Miguna asked the ODM leader to think about Okwach, his family and children and said that a civilized society must care for those who are vulnerable.
“Happy birthday, @RailaOdinga. As you celebrate and belch, think about Tom OKWACH, a young man with decades of birthdays ahead of him, but who is buried alive in Abimbo Mines in Bondo. Think about his family and children. A civilized society must care for its most vulnerable,” Miguna said in his birthday message on Friday.
His family said that they had been abandoned and called upon well-wishers to help them retrieve their kin’s body since they had used all the money they had in the operation.
The Siaya County government however denied allegations that it had neglected the family.
According to the Chief officer, James Onyango,the county government is still looking for Kshs6.3 million to help in retrieving Okwach’s body.
Okwach’s story has caused a mixed reaction on social media with some claiming that the government was not keen in rescuing his life.
“The body of Tom Okwach is still trapped feets under the ground in Abimbo, Siaya county. A serious government would have marshalled all it’s resources to that scene to protect life but this government, 36 days later, seems not to give a damn! Do we have a country? #BringBackTomOkwach,” Sam Migele said.
Jacob Odero said, “Tom Okwach is a reminder to us that the plight of the poor isn’t a concern to the powerful.”
29-year-old Okwach was among the 8 miners who were buried alive when the gold mine caved in on December 2, 2021.
6 of his colleagues were rescued alive after being trapped for several days while one lost his life during the tragedy.
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