Kirinyaga: Body of man who drowned on his birthday retrieved

Police in Mwea East sub-County, Kirinyaga County have retrieved the body of a 28-year-old man who drowned on his birthday.

The deceased, Kelvin Muthomi, had taken a break from work to celebrate his birthday. On the said day, he visited Nyamindi Falls in the company of his wife and one of his friends.

Muthomi lived in Ngucui Village and worked as a hotel employee in Kimbimbi. His colleague Goerge Macharia said he was alerted to the scene by Muthomi's friend who called him saying the deceased had allegedly gone swimming but vanished.

"It was his off day. Muthomi told me he wanted to get some mangoes from his friend who is also a colleague. I directed him there and he informed me they met and even chose to spend the day at Nyamindi Falls together with his wife. Not long afterwards, Muthomi's friend called me saying he had drowned in River Nyamindi," Macharia narrated.

He filed a report at Kimbimbi Police Station and was immediately escorted by officers to the site. The deceased's wife, who was overwhelmed with grief was escorted to the station as divers launched a search for Muthomi's body.

One of the residents, Margaret Muthoni, claimed the deceased and his wife had passed by her home and were offered a glass of water, moments before the tragic incident occurred.

"Mama kweli ulinipea maji dakika ya mwisho. Kelvin ako wapi? Nikamwambia pole mtoto wangu Kevin atakuja. Nikajiuliza sasa nitafanyaje?" Muthoni recalled the deceased's wife confronting her about her husband's whereabouts a few minutes later.

Ngucui Assistant Chief George Mungai said the search lasted for hours, presuming that Muthomi must have been trapped by underwater plants.

Muthomi's body was transferred to Kibugi Funeral Home awaiting postmortem.