KDF retrieves body from Chepkorio dam

By KBC Digital

Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel have successfully retrieved the body of a middle-aged man who drowned at Chepkorio Dam in Ngeria, Uasin Gishu County, along the Eldoret–Nakuru highway.

The recovery, conducted Saturday by Kenya Navy Clearance Diving Unit (KN CDU) and the 9th Battalion, Kenya Rifles (9 KR) marked the culmination of a six-day search and rescue operation. Earlier attempts by other agencies and local divers had been unsuccessful due to the dam’s 80-foot depth and difficult underwater conditions.

To overcome these challenges, KDF deployed a specialized team equipped with advanced JJ Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR) systems, which provided longer dive durations and extended search range beyond the limits of conventional SCUBA equipment. This capability enabled the divers to successfully locate and recover the body in a much shorter time.

The remains were handed over to the local police for further procedures.

The operation highlighted the professionalism, technical expertise, and commitment of KDF personnel in humanitarian response, reflecting the wider mission of the Kenya Defence Forces in supporting national resilience and emergency operations.