Emotions ran high yesterday when the mother of a 25-year-old man who horrendously died in a boiler at Blue Nile, an established steel manufacturing facility in Thika, Kiambu county visited the scene of death.

In the company of other family members, the distraught Consolata Orao, who travelled over 340 kilometres from Kisumu to the factory was only given some ashes as remains of Caleb Otieno, who perished inside a boiler last week.

The deceased’s brother, John Agwambo,  said DCI detectives and other State officials recovered a few bone-like particles from the boiler. Agwambo said the recovered ash and particles will be subjected to further analysis at the Government Chemist while others will be preserved at General Kago mortuary to enable the family commence burial preparations.

“We have unfortunately found out that the entire body was dissolved. We will use the ash and some recovered particles to help us plan for the burial ceremony. We are a bit relieved having recovered ash but the pain is unbearable,” said Agwambo.

Rosemary Oginga who spoke on behalf of Orao said she only saw a small tooth-like particle, a situation that left the family with more questions than answers as to how the factory allowed the tragedy to happen.

 “We are troubled by what happened and cannot even understand the explanation given to us by the company,” she said.

She expressed displeasure that the factory lacks requisite safety measures to protect its employees.

Thika DCIO boss Joseph Thuvi, who led the operation, ignored journalists and sped off to avoid questions even as the factory management remained tight-lipped over the matter.