Residents spend night searching for missing university student at Thiba Falls in Kirinyaga

Residents of Kutus in Kirinyaga County and students of Kirinyaga University spent the night at River Thiba Falls searching for a first-year student who drowned while swimming on Sunday.

Police officers from Kutus Police Station, local administrators and their assistants also joined the search, remaining at the river until about 7pm yesterday as news of the incident spread across the town.

Local divers led by Maulid Asman said efforts to retrieve the student had been hampered by the depth of the falls, strong water currents and submerged tree roots.

Asman said the conditions posed serious risks to the divers, adding that some sections of the river were particularly dangerous.

“The current is very strong, and there are places where you can sink. There are also many tree roots inside that can even trap you. We are also fearing death,” he said.

The missing student, according to his colleagues, is a first-year student who joined Kirinyaga University in September.

One student described the incident as heartbreaking, noting that the young man had only recently begun his university education.

“He has not stayed for long. He came here in September. It is very sad,” the student said.

Security officers at the scene said the student hails from Lodwar and that his relatives had been informed of the incident.

One officer said the student had been swimming with a friend when the incident occurred. The student reportedly attempted to help his friend but was unable to make it back to safety.

Residents said the incident was not the first drowning at Kutus Falls, raising concerns over the safety of people who visit the scenic site to swim.

They called on authorities to install warning signs alerting visitors, particularly students, to the dangers posed by the river.

“This is one of the beauties of Kirinyaga County, where people from outside the county come to see and swim,” said Joseph Wachira, a resident of Kutus.

However, residents said the popularity of the falls should be accompanied by measures to protect visitors from the dangers of the deep waters and strong currents.

Students and residents at the scene appealed for assistance in the search, saying they intended to remain at the river as they awaited the arrival of the student's parents and the recovery of his body.

Peter Munene, one of the residents, said they remained hopeful that the body would be retrieved, noting that recoveries at the river sometimes took several days.

“We are hoping it will come out after three days, as happens in this river,” he said.

The incident has renewed calls for safety warnings and greater awareness of the risks associated with swimming at River Thiba Falls.