The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) confirmed the death of Samuel Macharia Wanjohi, a porter who went missing while trekking on Mt. Kenya late last year, following an extensive multi-agency search operation.
In a statement issued Saturday, KWS said Wanjohi was reported missing on December 23, 2025, while hiking along the Sirimon–Shipton route within Mt. Kenya National Park.
His body was discovered on January 9, 2026, off the Marania trail in the Hinde Valley area, at an altitude of approximately 4,300 metres above sea level.
KWS said its Mountain Search and Rescue Unit was activated immediately after the disappearance was reported, in line with its mandate to ensure visitor safety within protected mountain ecosystems.
A formal report was also filed at Chogoria Police Station to facilitate coordinated investigations and response.
The search involved day-and-night operations conducted by experienced KWS rangers and the Mountain Search and Rescue Team, with support from aerial surveillance and extensive ground patrols. The operation covered several high-altitude and difficult-to-access areas, including Shipton Camp, Austrian Hut, Mackinder’s Valley, Sendeyo, Hide Valley, Mintos, the Timau Route and surrounding regions.
Despite facing harsh weather conditions, rugged terrain and poor visibility, KWS said the teams persisted in their efforts, working closely with the National Police Service. Mountain guides, porters, family members and members of the local mountain community also joined the search, providing critical local knowledge and support.
“Their courage, resilience and solidarity were instrumental in the search efforts,” KWS noted.
The agency expressed deep regret over the loss of life and reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening mountain safety, emergency preparedness and coordinated rescue mechanisms across Kenya’s protected mountain landscapes.
KWS conveyed its condolences to Wanjohi’s family, friends, fellow porters and guides, as well as the wider Mt. Kenya mountain community, as investigations into the circumstances surrounding his death continue
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