What began as a family’s painful loss became a contest of compassion as rival politicians turned grief into a stage
By James Okoth
The afternoon sun hung low over Kanyakwar village on Sunday, casting a golden shimmer on the still water pooled inside an abandoned quarry. The site, long deserted by miners, had become a familiar playground for children from the neighbourhood, especially the four brothers of the Otieno family.
That day, like many others, the boys, aged between eight and fifteen, left their home after lunch carrying plastic containers. According to their father, they had gone to fetch water and play nearby before returning for evening chores. As twilight approached and the boys did not return, worry crept into the homestead.
Moments later, screams tore through the calm. Villagers who went searching discovered the children’s clothes and slippers scattered at the quarry’s edge. Beneath the murky water, tragedy had struck. All four brothers had drowned.
News of the deaths spread quickly across Kanyakwar and beyond. Neighbours gathered in disbelief as rescuers pulled the bodies out one by one. The father, inconsolable, watched as his children, his only sons, lay lifeless, victims of a danger that had silently existed in their midst for years.
“It is a pain no parent should ever know,” said a relative. “They were full of life, always together.”
The quarry, like many others across Kisumu County, was once active with trucks and stonecutters. When operations ceased, it was left unprotected and filled with rainwater, turning into a deep, deceptive pond.
As the family struggled to come to terms with the tragedy, politics came calling. Two Kisumu gubernatorial hopefuls, through their representatives, separately arrived at the home, each eager to demonstrate sympathy.
Kisumu Central MP Dr Joshua Oron and Kisumu Senator Professor Tom Ojienda each ordered the purchase of four coffins for the deceased boys, complete with camera crews and supporters documenting the gesture.
Within hours, social media was flooded with photos and videos of the donations, each camp presenting its act as compassion and leadership.
“In support, my team handed over receipts for the purchase of four coffins and provided foodstuffs to assist the family as they prepare for the burial. My thoughts and prayers are with the family during this painful time,” read part of a statement shared by Dr Oron on social media.
“In a heartfelt show of compassion, the Professor provided foodstuffs to support the family as they received mourners during this painful period. He also took responsibility for the burial arrangements by providing four coffins,” said an official from Senator Ojienda’s team.
The grieving family now faces an unusual and painful dilemma: eight coffins bought in their name before any formal burial arrangements were agreed upon.
“What are we supposed to do with eight coffins?” a family elder asked quietly. “This has gone beyond mourning and has become a show.”
The incident has reignited debate about political tokenism, where tragedy becomes a stage and grief is used to score points. Instead of comfort, the family finds itself caught in a cultural and moral dilemma.
Following the tragedy, Governor Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o ordered an immediate suspension of all mining and quarry activities across Kisumu County. He directed the Department of Environment, together with NEMA, to audit all excavation sites for safety compliance.
“These sites have become death traps,” Nyong’o said. “We must act to protect our children and communities.”
As night falls once again over Kanyakwar, the Otieno homestead remains silent. The laughter that once filled the compound is gone, replaced by stacked coffins and mourners divided by political ambition.
The quarry stands as a reminder of neglect, but the events that followed have exposed another loss: the erosion of compassion, where even death becomes an opportunity for political display.
