This archive report was first published on 2 September 2019.
On September 1, 2019, a group of 13 local and foreign tourists embarked on an excursion inside the Ol-Jorowa Gorge at Hell's Gate National Park in Nakuru County. The group was swept away by flash floods, resulting in the loss of six lives.
According to a police report, the victims included five Kenyans of Indian origin, a Maasai tour guide, and a foreigner whose citizenship was yet to be revealed. The Nation newspaper has chosen not to name the victims until their families and relatives are notified by police.
Those who escaped the tragedy include Ivraj Singh Hayer, Jesica Sambhi, Robert Ombaga, Daniel Ongesa, Clare Wambui, and Sammy Kisotu.
Hell's Gate National Park, established in 1984, has a history of flash floods due to its gorges and the flow of water from neighboring regions. In 2012, eight members of a Nairobi church youth group were swept away by flash floods.
Kenya Wildlife Services (KWS) tweeted on September 2, 2019, that six bodies had been recovered, leaving one tourist missing. The search and rescue operation continued as the organization reached out to the next of kin to share details of the incident and plan the next course of action.
