This archive report was first published on 17 September 2019.
Five days have passed since 35-year-old Stephen Wanderi drowned at Gwa Kungu dam in Ndaragwa, Nyandarua County, leaving his family in agony.
According to eyewitnesses, Wanderi was seen swimming alone near the dam on the evening of the incident, prompting a search effort that has yet to yield results.
Local residents, including Joseph Katana, reported seeing Wanderi remove his clothes and jump into the river before disappearing from view.
"I was grazing nearby and saw him remove his clothes and jump into the river. Moments later, I did not see him again and that is when I alerted my neighbors," Katana said.
Despite the efforts of a local rescue team from the National Youth Service, Nyandarua County government staff, police, and local residents, Wanderi's body remains unretrieved.
Police are considering draining the dam if the body is not recovered by the end of the day, according to Nyandarua Sub County Police Commander Timon Odingo.
"We are still continuing with the search," Odingo said. "This will be our next option, but we hope that we will be able to retrieve it by the end of today," he added.
