Eight feared dead after trying to cross flooded river in Makueni

Piece by: VERONICA NTHAKYO

24 November 2023

• The eight were attempting to cross the swollen river when they were swept away.

Eight people were on Thursday night swept away by raging waters after they tried to cross the flooded Muuoni River in Emali, Makueni County.

The eight were attempting to cross the swollen river when they were swept away.

Kavuthu Chief Norman Musyoki and police said that the eight who were crossing from Kavuthu to Mutyambua when the tragedy happened.

"They were crossing from Kavuthu to Mutyambua. They alighted from the bus after the bus driver got cold feet and decided not to cross the swollen river. Some of the passengers took shelter at the Kavuthu shopping centre to wait for the waters to subside but the seven victims decided to cross the river," Musyoki said.

The victims were part of a larger group returning home after a meeting with First Lady Rachel Ruto in Kasarani, Nairobi.

According to the Chief, they are still establishing the exact number of people who were swept away.

The Red Cross team and the County disaster team said they had deployed a rescue and search team to the area.

Musyoki urged people to be cautious during the rainy season to avert any tragedy.

So far, at least 16 people in Makueni have died as a result of the ongoing Elnino rains, according to a report from Red Cross and the County Strategic Unit.

Efforts to trace the bodies are currently ongoing.