Man, 40, drowns in river while taking bath

Residents of Maralal in Samburu Central Sub County, Samburu County are mourning the death of a 40-year-old man who drowned in Lokuto River while taking a bath on Saturday.

According to one of the residents, the man drowned after he slipped and fell in the deepest point of the river and was unable to swim.

Confirming the incident via phone, Maralal Officer Commanding Police Division (OCPD) Abagarro Guyo said the body was moved to Samburu County Referral Hospital awaiting postmortem.

According to Guyo, joint efforts by residents and police officers to rescue the deceased were futile due to silt that made the water muddy and hindered visibility.

He added that an exhauster truck was brought in to pump out the water and retrieve the deceased’s body.

Mr Guyo and Maralal Chairman of Nyumba Kumi Initiative, Solomon Wanyeki have cautioned residents against bathing along rivers during the rainy season.

On her part, Maralal Location Chief Selina Lemakara said a total of five people have drowned in the seasonal river, futher urging parents to be careful when their children are crossing the river to school and back home.

The administrator requested teachers to release children earlier from school during the rainy season to avert such disasters.

The residents are now asking the county and national governments to build bridges across rivers in the region in order to prevent people drowning in flooded rivers.