Ruai Base Commander's Car Swept Away By Floods, Body Retrieved From Ditch

• Cyprian Kasili, Ruai base commander's body was retrieved from River Kware after floods swept away his car
• Residents informed police officers from KBC Police station of a submerged vehicle on Wednesday, May 1
• His brother, Layman Kasili, told TUKO.co.ke that he last spoke with him while he was driving to Labour Day celebrations for official duties

Ruai base commander, Cyprian Kasili, has been retrieved from River Kware in Machakos county after his car was swept away by floods while driving back home.

According to the statement by Machakos by the KBC police station in Matungulu sub-county, the public reported of a submerged vehicle at the river on Wednesday, May 1, at 4:30 pm.

The officers visited the scene after which the body was retrieved and taken to Patjud Funeral Home, as efforts to remove the car continued.

"CI Cyprian Kasili was reported to have been swept away and drowned job reference no 237575. It was established that he was driving back to his home in Lowland Estate within the Kwrae Area, but the vehicle was still submerged in the river. The body has been retrieved and moved to Patjud Funeral Home, awaiting autopsy, efforts are still underway to retrieve the vehicle," read the statement.

Who was Kasili?

Kasili was an officer in Lowdar before his promotion to Ruai's base commander in November 2023.

In an interview with TUKO.co.ke, his neighbour Erick Kasembeli said he was outgoing and calm and was home on Sunday, April 28, before returning to work.

"Cyprian was a calm guy, we were brought up together here in Bikeke. His hard work was budding before his untimely death. He was an officer in Lowdar before his promotion last year November to a Base Commander,"

Kasili's last moments before death

While speaking to TUKO.co.ke, Kasili's brother Layman Kasili, a prison warden, at Kitale Medium Prison said he was in contact with him on Wednesday, May 1, and informed him of his official duty on Labour Day.

"We talked yesterday while he was proceeding to Labour Day after which we did not get in touch again. I understood he was on official duty. I tried later but he was still off. I reached out to my brothers and they confirmed his phone is still off," he said.

After numerous calls of his prolonged silence, he said the news of his death was broken his cousin who works at Lang'ata police station confirmed that he was swept by floods.

Layman further said the family woke up to pictures of his brother being retrieved from the river, although some of the members are still in disbelief of the sad reality.

"Sadly, we have seen photos circulating online that his body has been retrieved and people still trying to remove his vehicle, some are yet to believe and are waiting for communication from our elder brother," he said.

The late senior police is survived by a widow Grace Kasili and three children.

Kasili's death came days after a man, his wife, and a neigbbour were swept away by floods as they were heading home.

What to know about floods in Kenya

• The emotional videos from Mai Mahiu broke the hearts of many Kenyans following an overflow from a nearby river
• In his address at the Vatican, Pope Francis condoled with Kenyans suffering from the ongoing floods in the country
• After massive loss and destruction of properties and infrastructure, Kenya National Highway Authority (KeNHA), announced the closure of Mai Mahiu-Narok road

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