Family holds prayers for a cop swept by floods in Nairobi

Messages of hope dominated the prayer ceremony of the cop swept by raging floods in Nairobi as family, friends, and relatives met in Kipsyenan, Nakuru County.

David Chesire was swept by floods three months ago in Nairobi after rescuing four people. His body is yet to be found.

Ezra Kimuge family spokespersons said the prayers were to release the family to conduct or engage in other activities.

Kimuge praised the deceased for his selfless devotion to rescuing Kenyans who were in distress following the floods.

“He died a hero, and that is something worth recognizing by the State," he said. Chesire is survived by three children and a wife.

As the country moves on, Kimuge believes the loss will continue hurting the family.

He hopes the government will understand their grievances and release the proper documentation to allow them to get deceased dues without waiting for seven years.

“We are sad and devastated. We believe his body will be retrieved one day to allow us to get closure. We hope the government will recognise him as a hero, given the circumstances surrounding his death,” he said.

He said the deceased children are in need of care and protection, hoping that the government would chip in to support them.

The family, he said, will not give up searching for the deceased's body for a proper burial, but if not, the final ceremony will be conducted as a way of acceptance.

Joseph Chesire, the father to the deceased, said that he and his wife have been living in agony and despair for the past three months.

His son’s body, he said, has not been retrieved, which has affected the family's mental health hoping for a miracle.

With the water having reduced, he said the government should resume the search.

“The government should resume the search. Maybe his body was covered with mud. My son helped us and supported his family,” he added.

Elizabeth Chesire said that the deceased was his firstborn son, and the missing body has remained to be a pain for the family.

“Paying school fees is a problem. We are hoping to transfer his children from a private school to a public school due to lack of resources,” she said.

She stated that she wished to camp at the river, which her son might have swept to until its body resurfaces, but lacks the energy.

“I don’t have the energy, I don’t sleep anymore, I’m full of thoughts, hoping every morning I will get positive news,” she said.

She questioned the whereabouts of the four people allegedly rescued by his son for failing to visit nor ask about the wellbeing of the family.