John Mapozi news Archives

John Mapozi and Sam Gitau bodies already decomposed to the extent that nothing can be found?

Posted on January 4, 2018 by Martin Oduor

Lake Nakuru crash victims are still missing two months on after the accident. Technology and prayers have failed to recover the bodies of John Mapozi and Sam Gitau.

Bodies of Captain Apollo Malowa, Anthony Kipyegon and Veronica Muthoni were recovered and buried. The families of John Mapozi and Sam Gitau are still in agony there is no hope of recovering their kin.

What puzzles many people is the how Mapozi and Gitau’s bodies seem to have disappeared without a trace. Malowa and Kipyegon’s bodies were found floating on the shores of the lake just after two days.

Veronica’s body was recovered four weeks later in the helicopter wreck. But Mapozi and Gitau’s bodies disappeared without any trace.

Traditional rituals

Families have prayed as rescue operation searched the lake for months without any success in tracing Mapozi and Gitau’s bodies.

Technology and prayers have failed to recover the two missing bodies. Perhaps it’s time to explore the third option – use of traditional rituals.

Rituals have been used before all over Kenya to recover bodies of people who drowned. Elders should camp at the shores of the lake and conduct rituals to help with the search.

But the intriguing question now is whether the two bodies have already decomposed to the extent that nothing can be found.

Agony for John Mapozi and Sam Gitau’s families even as ill-fated chopper is retrieved from Lake Nakuru

Posted on November 20, 2017 by Martin Oduor

Monday 20th November marks 32 days since the ill-fated chopper crashed into Lake Nakuru. The wreckage of the chopper was retrieved from the lake on Saturday.

There were hopes that the bodies of the last three victims of the chopper would be found in the wreckage. The bodies of pilot Apollo Malowa and Anthony Kipyegon were recovered two days after the crash

Ill-fated chopper that crashed into Lake Nakuru

Divers were unable to find bodies of the remaining three victims believed to have been trapped in the chopper. The wreckage was discovered on Friday giving hope to victim’s families.

Veronicah Muthoni’s body

Veronicah Muthoni’s body was successfully retrieved from Lake Nakuru on Friday. The bodies of John Mapozi and Sam Gitau were however nowhere to be found when the wreckage was pulled out of the lake.

The recovery of Veronicah’s body from the helicopter’s wreckage had rekindled hopes of finding the bodies of Gitau and Mapozi.

The families of the two victims were heartbroken when they couldn’t find their kin’s bodies. National Disaster Operations desk officer Jonathan Kertich says the wreckage was located 2.44km on the western end of the lake and was lying about 5.4m deep.

John Mapozi’s mother gazes at Lake Nakuru in agony as divers are still unable to retrieve her son’s body

Posted on November 1, 2017 by Martin Oduor

11 days later after the chopper crashed into Lake Nakuru bodies of all deceased occupants haven’t been recovered. The wreckage has also not been traced in the lake.

On Saturday October 28th Mike Sonko gave an update on the recovery operation at Lake Nakuru. The Nairobi governor sent his own divers to retrieve the body of his friend John Mapozi.

In the update, Sonko says that the plane wreckage has not even been traced. He reveals that divers’ mission has been hindered by poor visibility in the lake.

“Updates on Chopper Crash Incident in Lake Nakuru . The search and recovery operation is still on going as planned. The National Disaster Operation Centre (NDOC ) is on site and coordinating the Multi-Agency operation. Unfortunately the number of dead bodies recovered remains Two (2), the rest of the people and the aircraft are still missing. We appeal for calm as the operation is still on going. Safety for everyone is paramount as operation in the lake is delicate.

“Some of the challenges being encountered by Search and Rescue Teams are Poor visibility in the lake due dirty water, wide search area, presence of wild animals, weather among others,” wrote Sonko.

Divers hit by typhoid

Divers prepare for search operation at Lake Nakuru

Several divers involved in the search operation in Lake Nakuru have reportedly fallen sick. The divers are said to be plagued by typhoid and malaria.

Divers are said to have been complaining of stomach pain and diarrhea. They are reported to be suffering from typhoid due to contamination of the lake by sewerage. The lake is full of plastic bags, pieces of cloth and bottles.

Victims’ relatives camp at the lake

Relatives of the victims who perished in the helicopter crash are camping at the lake waiting for any good news from divers.

John Mapozi’s mother was on Tuesday seen gazing at the lake in agony. She looked at the lake for several minutes before retreating to the waiting tent.