A man who found the body of a 70-year-old man floating in River Nzoia at Mugumu, Marakusi Ward, Lugari Constituency, on Sunday evening was reportedly unable to go home immediately because of local cultural beliefs.
Benedict Wambulwa Sitati was fishing in the river when he came across the body of a man identified only as Oloibon, who had reportedly been missing since Thursday.
Under local custom, a person who finds a body in mysterious circumstances must not return home until the body has been retrieved and taken to a designated place, and the finder has undergone a cleansing ritual. It is believed that the spirit of death could otherwise follow them home.
Speaking to the media, Wambulwa said he had spent hours without food as he waited for authorities, who were slow to retrieve the body. The deceased is said to be a resident of neighbouring Bungoma County.
