Kirinyaga: Man drowns in Rukenya Falls during weekend getaway with friends

A 25-year-old man drowned in the Thiba River while swimming at Rukenya Falls in Gichugu, Kirinyaga County, on Sunday.

Daniel Mutua was swimming with his friends during a weekend getaway from Nairobi. They were a group of over 20, and Mutua was showing them how to swim when the 5:30 p.m. incident occurred.

“It is the third day of tears and agony as we continue searching for our friend’s body,” said John Oyoyi.

“I could not believe seeing him being swept away by the currents. We could see him crying for help, but we could not help. By the time we called the hotel caretaker, he had already been swept away,” Oyoyi said.

Kirinyaga residents, county government disaster management officers and local divers are still looking for the body.

Over 100 youths had come from Nairobi to swim in Rukenya Falls during the weekend before the incident.