Man drowns while attempting to rescue drowned friend in River Athi

FILE IMAGE OF A POLICE LINE

A rescue attempt turned tragic after two men drowned in River Athi in Athi River, Machakos County.

Police said the incident was reported on May 24, 2026 at about 3.30 pm in Athi River South Sub-County.

According to the police, Bernard Mutinda Mumo is believed to have drowned first while swimming in the river. In an attempt to save him, 27-year-old Dorminic Nzioki Kaluki removed his clothes and jumped into the water.

However, Kaluki also drowned during the rescue attempt.

Police and locals visited the scene and launched retrieval efforts.

The body of Kaluki was later recovered and moved to Shalom Community Hospital mortuary awaiting autopsy.

By Sunday evening, search teams were still combing the river for the body of Mumo.

And police in Bamburi are investigating a drowning incident after the body of an unidentified man was discovered at the beach near Sarova Whitesands Beach Resort & Spa.

The incident was reported on May 24, 2026 by beach operators who alerted authorities after spotting a lifeless body along the shoreline at around 10.45 am.

Police visited the scene and established that the deceased was an unknown African male adult aged about 25 years.

Police said the body appeared to have been pushed to the shore by ocean waves. No visible injuries were observed on the body.

The scene was processed before the body was moved to Coast General Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary awaiting identification and postmortem examination.

Dozens of people have in the past months died in drowning incidents. Many others were displaced by the incidents, most of which were caused by flooding.

Police say many others are missing after the incidents.

The incidents still pend under probe amid ongoing searches to recover the bodies of those missing.

Many others are still being threatened by floods in Tana River area, officials said on Monday.