Efforts to retrieve the bodies of two women who were swept away by the swollen Sagana River in Kieni constituency, Nyeri County, on Wednesday evening are ongoing, with one body having been retrieved.
Hundreds of Mbiriri residents began the search for their village mates early in the morning, and it wasn't until noon that they recovered the body of a woman.
According to reports, the two women had gone to fetch firewood in Mt. Kenya forest when the tragic incident occurred. As they attempted to cross the river, they were swept away.
"The two women had gone to fetch firewood in the nearby forest, and they were swept away as they tried to cross the river. The river is full due to the ongoing heavy rains," a resident who was involved in the search said.
The search was led by the Kieni Member of Parliament, Njoroge Wainaina, who stated that due to the steepness of the valley through which the river passes, residents have been forced to use ropes to try and retrieve the bodies. However, their efforts have been hampered by the extremely low temperatures of the water.
"The residents, though willing and coming in large numbers, do not have the equipment. It is too difficult and too cold; one cannot be in that water for more than 10 minutes as they are likely to get infected with pneumonia," Wainaina said.
The residents have urged the government to provide a lasting solution by erecting a bridge, as it is risky for them, especially during the rainy season.
