A 19-year-old university student drowned while swimming in the Kathita River in Tharaka South, Tharaka Nithi County.
The deceased, identified as Brian Kibet, a first-year student at Tharaka University, drowned on Saturday, September 19, 2026, while swimming with three friends.
According to police, the incident was reported at about 4:43pm by the university’s students’ president.
Police established that Kibet and his three friends had gone to the river to swim when he dived into the water and drowned.
Local divers assisted in retrieving his body from the river. Police said the body had no visible injuries.
The scene was documented by investigators before the body was taken to Marimanti Level 4 Hospital mortuary, where it was preserved pending a postmortem examination.
Elsewhere, a 16-year-old Grade 8 pupil drowned in the Indian Ocean after he was reportedly overwhelmed by strong waves while swimming with friends in Watamu, Kilifi County.
The deceased, identified as Vincent Katana Karisa, a pupil at Kanani Primary School, was found dead along the shoreline in the Kanani area on Sunday, September 20, 2026.
According to police, Katana had left his home at about 10am in the company of his friends and later went to the ocean.
He was reportedly swept away after being overwhelmed by strong waves while in the water.
Police officers from Watamu Police Station responded after the body was spotted along the Indian Ocean shoreline.
The scene was photographed and documented by officers from the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) Watamu and Crime Scene Investigation (CSI) officers from Malindi.
The body was later removed and taken to the Malindi General Hospital mortuary, where it was preserved pending a postmortem examination.
Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the drowning.
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