Divers have retrieved the body of a Bomet University student who drowned at Chebaraa Falls in Chepalungu after a three-day search.
It took a total of 11 divers from the Bomet County Government and Kenya Red Cross to find the body of Tyrus Mutalii, a 24-year-old second year student.
He reportedly slipped and fell into the raging waters while taking selfies with friends at around 5pm on Sunday evening.
“It took a lot of effort to trace and retrieve the body from the water due to the depth and high volumes during a rainy season,” said Mr Stanley Mutai, a senior disaster management officer in Bomet County.
He said the rescue team had to divert the water from Nyangores river so as to reduce the volume going through the falls and enable divers to locate the body that was trapped between rocks and debris.
Divers search for a Bomet University student who drowned at Chebaara falls in Chepalungu Constituency on November 1, 2021.
Photo credit: Vitalis Kimutai | Nation Media Group
Hundreds of students wailed as the body was retrieved from the river bed. It was quickly wrapped in a blanket and loaded into a police van before being taken away from the scene.
“The body has been moved to Longisa County rReferral Hospital Mortuary for preservation,” said Mr Nelson Masai, the Chepalungu sub-county police commander.
"He slipped from the highest point of the falls as he sought to get a good photo shot of himself...his college mates saw him free fall backwards into the water," said a witness.
