Double tragedy as man dies trying to save friend from River Athi

Police said the incident was reported on May 24, 2026, at about 3.30 pm in Athi River South Sub-County.

According to police, Bernard Mutinda Mumo is believed to have drowned first while swimming in the river.

In an attempt to save him, 27-year-old Dorminic Nzioki Kaluki removed his clothes and jumped into the water. However, Kaluki also drowned during the rescue attempt.

Police and locals visited the scene and launched retrieval efforts. The body of Kaluki was later recovered and moved to Shalom Community Hospital mortuary, awaiting autopsy.

By Monday, search teams were still combing the river for the body of Mumo. In a separate incident, police in Bamburi are investigating a drowning case after the body of an unidentified man was discovered at the beach.

The incident was reported on May 24, 2026, by beach operators who alerted authorities after spotting a lifeless body along the shoreline at about 10.45 am.

Police visited the scene and established that the deceased was an unknown African male adult, aged about 25.

Police said the body appeared to have been washed ashore by ocean waves. No visible injuries were observed.

The scene was processed before the body was moved to Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary, pending identification and postmortem examination.

Dozens of people have died in drowning incidents in recent months. Many others have been displaced in incidents largely linked to flooding.

Police say several others are still missing following such incidents.

The cases remain under investigation, with search operations ongoing to recover the bodies of those still missing.

Meanwhile, police in Mt Elgon, Bungoma County, are investigating the killing of a 37-year-old herdsman whose body was found lying on a road near River Malakis in Kiptchinge village.

According to police, the incident was reported on Friday evening. Officers visited the scene and found the body of Tito Nyongesa lying by the roadside.

Preliminary investigations indicate that the deceased, who worked as a herdsman, had been shot dead.

Police said the bullet struck the victim at the back of the head and exited through the left eye.

Investigators believe the deceased was attacked by unknown assailants while returning to his residence from a neighbour’s home.

No cartridge was recovered from the scene. Police said access to the area was difficult due to rough terrain and poor infrastructure, but the scene was processed before the body was moved to Sannte Morgue pending postmortem examination.

No arrests have been made and investigations are ongoing.