This archive report was first published on 29 July 2020.
Tragic Fall at Thomson Falls Leaves Family Mourning ¶
On July 26, 2020, Jemima Oresha, a 20-year-old woman from Kitale, was visiting her relatives in Nyahururu, Laikipia County. She had traveled from Kitale on Saturday and was set to return on Monday.
Ms Oresha and her brother Zablon Mungafu were taking pictures at the world-famous Thomson Falls when the tragedy occurred. Mr Mungafu said Ms Oresha was excited to see the falls and insisted that he take photos of her while standing on a stone next to the river, two meters from where he was.
‘I had finished taking her picture and as she was returning to where I was, she slipped and fell into the river and was swept away by the raging waters as I watched. I could not do anything as the water was moving at a very high speed,’ Mr Mungafu said.
Thomson Falls stands 74 meters high and is one of Kenya’s highest, at 2360 meters above sea level. The falls is a tributary of Ewaso Nyiro River, which drains from the Aberdare ranges, that form one of the pillars of the Great Rift Valley.
Mr Mungafu informed security officers at the site, who then informed police, and a rescue mission was launched. However, the search was suspended on Sunday evening due to heavy rains and high water levels in the river.
Laikipia County has been urged to send more divers to help in the search for Ms Oresha’s body. The family appreciates the good work being done by police, Red Cross personnel, and the Laikipia fire brigade but is concerned that more divers are needed to find her body.
