20-year-old man drowns in River Yala

The deceased was identified as Brian Matendechere, who reportedly went to graze livestock along the riverbank on Tuesday evening but failed to return home.

According to the area Assistant Chief, Mr. Philip Chunga, the family that employed Matendechere raised the alarm after noticing his prolonged absence. A search was immediately mounted, during which the livestock were found stranded along the riverbank, but the herdsman was nowhere to be seen.

Mr. Chunga said Matendechere’s clothes were later discovered a few metres from the river, heightening fears that he may have drowned. The search operation was suspended overnight due to poor visibility and resumed early Wednesday morning with the assistance of a local diver.

The body was eventually retrieved from the river and taken to Bondo Sub-County Hospital mortuary, where it awaits a postmortem examination.

Police have since launched investigations to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident.