The body of a diver who drowned a week ago at Cheploch gorge, on the border of Baringo and Elgeyo Marakwet counties, has been retrieved, bringing a rigorous eight days’ search to an end.
The diver, Rodgers Kiplimo, 25, from Emsea village in Keiyo South was allegedly swept away by the swollen river on Saturday last week at around 11 am.
Witnesses said the father of one had plunged into the fast-flowing waters while performing one of the daring dives that have made the gorge famous among visitors.
Local divers who frequent the site said the water had risen significantly following recent rains, making the currents unusually strong.
Due to their expertise in diving, the group comes in handy as they have been involved in the retrieval of bodies in the North and South Rift regions.
It is reported that on the fateful day, the diver who also operates as a boda boda rider left his Emsea village in the morning to fend for his family, as usual-that was the last day he was seen alive. He made the last plunge at the gorge, a venture he had done for three years and he was swept away by the raging waters.
His drowning led to a tiresome eight days’ search, which was led by his colleagues and villagers who walked dozens of kilometers along the crocodile-infested Kerio River to look for him.
On Saturday, the search teams were supplemented by experienced divers from Bomet County, led by Gideon Ngotwa and Gideon Siele of the department of disaster management.
The deceased’s father Pius Chelimo told the Daily Nation of his relief after the body of his first-born son was retrieved, ending the one-week search and giving them closure as they make arrangements for his interment.
He indicated that the body was recovered 200 metres away from the diving point and had visible head injuries and a broken hand, noting that it had been trapped underwater by tree branches.
“The body was recovered on Saturday morning by the search teams who spotted it floating at the Kerio river, approximately 200 meters away from where he made his last plunge. We suspect that it had been trapped by some tree branches under water- one of his hands was broken and he also had visible head injuries,” said Mr Chelimo.
“Though I am broken from losing my son in such circumstances, I am happy that we finally found his body which will give us closure. The search teams had tirelessly walked for kilometers, others diving into the river every day to locate him. I really appreciate their commitment in finding him. We are now making the burial arrangements and he will be interred on Saturday next week,” he added.
On his Facebook page on Saturday, Bomet Governor Hillary Barchok said that following a request made by the county government of Baringo, divers from his county on Saturday joined the rescue mission.
“Following a request made by the County Government of Baringo on Friday, our Bomet County Government divers on Saturday joined the rescue mission and the body of the missing diver has been found and retrieved,” said Prof Barchok.
“We thank our divers Gideon Ngotwa and Gideon Siele of the department of disaster management for their heroic and selfless mission to search for their comrade. They have given the family of the Late Rodgers some comfort by finding his body,” added the governor.
His death brings to three, the number of divers who have drowned while diving at the tourist attraction site since 2016.
In 2016, one of the divers, Benard Kipkorir, 26, lost his life after he hit a tree trunk while diving. He first lost his consciousness and efforts by his colleagues to resuscitate him failed.
Travelling along the busy Iten-Kabarnet road, one cannot resist the urge to make a stopover to marvel at a group of youth who leap approximately 70 metres into the crocodile infested Cheploch Gorge.
Many tourists and travelers alike from far and wide have been traveling to the gorge at the border of Baringo and Elgeyo-Marakwet counties to have a glimpse of the divers which comprises 16 youths aged between 23 and 30.
What started as fun and sporting for the youths in 2014, led to an income generating activity as their swimming prowess started to attract tourists and motorists plying the route.
Tourists pay for the youth to leap into the water with the proceeds being shared among the divers at the end of a 'working day’
The walls of the gorge are made up of smooth rocks that compress the huge volumes of water from the Elgeyo-Marakwet escarpments, letting them out in whirling pressure at the point where the youths dive.
