Two people drowned in the swollen Malewa River in separate incidents of suicide and accident on Tuesday evening.
In the first incident, a class four pupil, Francis Gathumbi, 10, fell into the river while he and four friends were trying to get a fishing hook from a tree by the river.
His father Peter Maina said a twig he held onto to reach the hook broke, causing him to fall into the raging water, which swept him away.
“He has not been seen since then and the river is overflowing. Any assistance is welcome," Maina said.
In the second incident, a boda boda operator, Samuel Njenga, 27, committed suicide by jumping into Malewa River a short distance from where the pupil drowned.
His brother Isaac Njoroge said the father of two appeared stressed a few days prior to the incident, though he did not reveal what was bothering him.
Njenga, who separated from his wife some time back, called his girlfriend and bid her goodbye prior to taking his life, Njoroge said.
“They took a walk together since there is some money they were to deliver somewhere, but when they got to the bridge, he kissed her, shoved her aside and plunged to his death," he said.
Njoroge said Kipipiri police have not assisted the two families. He said by yesterday afternoon, they had visited the village twice but only parked away from the scene and never went close to the river.
The police conduct prompted the residents to protest Wednesday afternoon, blocking the busy Ol Kalou-Kinangop road to demand attention from the authorities.
The county police commander Gideon Ngumi said his officers are on the ground, trying to retrieve the bodies, but the raging waters are making things difficult.
