Kirinyaga Engineering Student Drowns In Swollen River While Swimming, Body Found

• A third-year building engineering student at Kirinyaga University drowned in the Thiba River on May 15 after the river burst its banks due to heavy rains
• Despite efforts by friends and area residents to rescue him, the young man, Kiptoo, was swept downstream by strong currents
• Kiptoo's body was discovered on May 17, floating in the water at Ngumbatha village, 10 kilometres from where he drowned
• His family, who travelled from Trans Nzoia after learning of his death, identified his body and expressed their grief over the loss of a hardworking and promising young man

Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Kirinyaga - A young engineering student at Kirinyaga University has drowned in the Thiba River.

The third-year building engineering student was swimming in the river when the banks burst due to heavy rains.

According to Citizen Digital, the young man was swept downstream as the currents in the river became stronger.

In the Wednesday, May 15 incident, the young man's friends and area residents tried to rescue him, but all was in vain.

Following the incident, the case was reported at Kutus police station, prompting a search and rescue operation.

Where was Kiptoo's body found

Kiptoo's body was discovered on Friday, May 17, floating in the water at Ngumbatha village in Nyangati location after a two-day search.

The area village elder Johnson Wachira confirmed he had been found, adding that his body was swept 10 kilometres from where he drowned.

Samuel Murkomen, the young lad's father, expressed shock after the family travelled from Trans Nzoia following news of his drowning.

"We have come all the way from Kaimugor village in Trans Nzoia County after receiving information from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations that our son was no longer alive. We travelled to Kirinyaga and were able to identify the body," said Murkomen.

His close relatives eulogised him as a happy and hardworking person whose bright future had been dimmed.

Nairobi student drowns in school's swimming pool

Elsewhere, a family in Eastleigh was in distress and great pain after their 11-year-old son drowned in a school's swimming pool days after admission.

Iilyaas Abdikarim Ali Mohamud, a Grade Two pupil at Visa Oshwal Primary School, went missing on the evening of Tuesday, February 20, when his father went to pick him up from school.

Mohamud's family said efforts to find the Grade Two pupil were futile until his body was later found inside the school's swimming pool on Wednesday morning, February 21.

Proofreading by Asher Omondi, current affairs journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.