Two men swept by ravaging waters in Machakos

Two people were on Tuesday swept away by ravaging waters in Machakos County.

The duo reportedly drowned while crossing rivers in different incidents Matungulu and Yatta sub-counties.

In the first incident, Zadakek Nyambane, 34, drowned while he attempted to cross the Ituma River within the Kantafu area in the Matungulu subcounty.

Matungulu subcounty police commander Peter Omondi said the incident happened at around 9.30 am Tuesday.

"Today at 9.30 am, it was reported by a local administrator that Zadakek Nyambane, 34, Kantafu, resident, had attempted to cross a flooded culvert at a seasonal river before he was swept by the ravaging waters," Omondi told the Star on Tuesday.

Omondi said police with the assistance of members of the public retrieved the body after a long day's search in the River.

It was moved to Kangundo Level 4 hospital mortuary awaiting an autopsy.

Elsewhere in the Yatta subcounty, police are leading in search of a man who reportedly drowned in River Athi early Tuesday.

The incident happened at Kinyaata Village.

Sources said the 30-year-old was in the company of four other men when he was swept away by the waters.

The five men are said to have been crossing the river from Mwala to Yatta side when the tragedy struck.

The four successfully managed to cross the river.

The search to retrieve the body was still ongoing by press time.

"Residents of Yambumbu village in Kinyaata sub-location in Kinyaata location, Yatta are currently camping and walking over 25 kms downstream along River Athi in search of a 30-year-old man swept by water as he crossed. He was in the company of four other young men crossing from Mwala side to Yatta but couldn't manage to cross because of the ravaging waters. The four other men, however, managed to cross successfully," a local told the Star by phone.