Garissa: The body of a middle-aged man who drowned in River Tana while swimming has been recovered after a day of search.
According to Kenya News Agency, Richard Kimani, a jua kali artisan in Garissa, was at the riverbanks with an unidentified friend when he decided to swim. After some time, Kimani vanished, prompting his friend to call for help, but rescue efforts were futile.
Garissa Township Sub County Police Commander Samuel Boit confirmed the events and warned residents against swimming in the river. He noted that water levels were rising due to ongoing rains in upstream counties. "After receiving the reports of drowning, we summoned a team comprising the Kenya Redcross, local divers, and the police who began searching for the body along the river Tana," he said. Boit emphasized the dangers of the river, citing its depth, high water volume, and presence of dangerous animals like crocodiles.
The body was moved to Garissa mortuary for preservation and postmortem examination. The area village elder, Alex Njeru, urged community members to avoid the river, noting that rains from the Mount Kenya region are increasing the river's surface level. "We are calling upon the community in this rainy season to stay away from the river for the time being," Njeru stated.
Damaris Wanjiku, a resident of Garissa County, cautioned people about the dangers posed by flooded rivers and commended the efforts of locals who helped retrieve the missing body.