This archive report was first published on 21 November 2019.
On November 20, 2019, a car plunged into Cheploch Gorge, claiming the life of Daniel Chemjor, a 40-year-old television journalist working for Mediamax Network.
Chemjor, who was on paternity leave, was the only occupant of the vehicle. His body was recovered on Thursday afternoon after the car was retrieved from the gorge along River Kerio at the border of Elgeyo-Marakwet and Baringo counties.
Elgeyo-Marakwet County Commissioner Ahmed Omar confirmed Chemjor's identity and suspected that he might have been overspeeding, as the car lost control before hitting a guard rail and plunging into the crocodile-infested gorge.
Chemjor had been with a group of friends at an entertainment spot, Big 5 Club, about two kilometres from the scene of the accident. He left the club at 11pm, in high spirits, insisting that he was late home.
Joseph Kurui, the manager of Big 5 Club, said Chemjor had not taken any alcohol at the club, contradicting the suspicion of overspeeding.
Chemjor's uncle, Joseph Kiptegen, said that he started his paternity leave on November 10 and was about to resume work in Nairobi.
Mediamax acting CEO Ken Ngaruiya expressed his condolences, describing Chemjor as a dedicated worker who made a significant difference in the lives of many people.
Chemjor's contributions to the company were many and varied, and he worked for Mediamax for seven years.
His vehicle was retrieved with the assistance of SBI Construction Company, which brought a crane to the scene. The car veered off the road, hit a guard rail at the Kerio River bridge, and rolled into the water.
