Police have recovered the body of a middle-aged man who drowned while swimming in River Tana in Garissa.
According to a police report, Richard Kimani, a jua kali artisan, had been resting at the riverbank with an unidentified friend before deciding to swim to escape the region’s scorching heat.
Moments later, his friend lost sight of him and raised the alarm, but rescue efforts were unsuccessful.
While confirming the events, Garissa Township Sub County Police Commander Samuel Boit warned the residents against swimming in the river noting that the water levels were increasing due to the ongoing rains in upstream counties.
“After receiving the reports of drowning, we mounted a team comprising the Kenya Redcross, local divers and the police and they started looking for the body along river Tana. They were able to retrieve the body which was said to be stuck beneath the bed of the river,” Boit said.
He urged residents to avoid the river, noting its depth, strong currents, and presence of dangerous animals like crocodiles.
The body was taken to Garissa mortuary for preservation and an autopsy to confirm the cause of death.
Village elder Alex Njeru cautioned the community against engaging in risky activities near the river noting that rains from Mount Kenya region are increasing the surface level of the river.
“The water is surging in from Mount Kenya, and we urge residents to keep off the river this rainy season,” Njeru said.
