DROWNING

Cops praised for using motorbike to ferry body of drowned man from river in Kapenguria

The cops rode for at least 3 kilometres with the body tied on the motorcycle to where they had parked their official vehicle.

In Summary
  • The team then drove for almost 80 kilometres to near the site.

  • They said they arrived where the police vehicle could not access the scene.

The two cops who used a motorcycle to ferry the body to the mortuary
The two cops who used a motorcycle to ferry the body to the mortuary
Image: HANDOUT

Two police officers have been praised for using a motorcycle to ferry to the mortuary the body of a man who had drowned in a river in Kapenguria, West Pokot.

The two officers from the local police station rode for at least three kilometres with the body tied on the motorcycle to reach where they had parked their official vehicle.

Police said a chief in Kiamakeo village had reported that the body of an unknown male adult was found floating in river Chesra.

The team then drove for almost 80 kilometres to near the site.

They said they arrived where the police vehicle could not access the scene.

The incident was reported on May 8. The team had to spend the night near the scene where their vehicle had hit a dead end.

They continued with the mission the following day.

The area is one of those with poor road networks in the country.

They arrived at the river where the body had been trapped and waited for hours for the water to subside, said police spokesperson Dr Resla Onyango.

She said the man aged about 60 had been swept downstream to the scene and stuck on a tree branch.

The officers with the help of locals managed to retrieve the body from the water and carried it to a motorcycle belonging to one of the locals.

They then tied the body to a canvas they had come with and rode with it for about three kilometres to where they had left their vehicle.

“This is a commendable action,” said Dr Onyango.

She added many other officers do numerous heroic things to help the public.

Police said there are dozens of people missing after being swept away by raging waters.

The Ministry of Interior and National Administration announced Thursday at least 291 people have died as a result of the floods.

The ministry announced that 75 Kenyans are still missing, while another 188 have so far sustained injuries.

A total of 55,631 households have been displaced and this has directly affected approximately 278,155 people.

The heavy rains have so far impacted over 412,763 people forcing the government to set up at least 187 camps across 25 counties.

In Nakuru, volcanic fault lines occurred, but no casualty was reported.

About 1,967 schools have been affected by the floods.

Total health facilities have also risen to 64, reported damaged across 12 counties.

Approximately crops on 168,092 acres of land have been destroyed and 8,722 livestock dead, as a result of the floods.

The most affected sectors are transport, housing, education, health and agriculture.

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