This archive report was first published on 7 December 2019.
Makueni Men Survive Three-Day Ordeal on River Athi ¶
Published on December 7, 2019
Three men from Makueni County, Mr. Mutuku Tila, 38, Mr. Muteti Kiambi, 35, and Mr. Muinde Kasuu, 37, were rescued after being stranded on a forested island in the River Athi for three days.
The men, who are casual labourers, had gone to the island to check on their beehives when the river suddenly broke its banks, trapping them.
"The river suddenly broke its banks after we had gone onto the island to check on the state of our beehives. We resolved that it was risky to attempt to cross back. This is why we decided to hang on hoping that the water levels will recede. We got desperate as this did not happen," Mr. Kiambi told the Saturday Nation shortly after they were rescued.
They survived on wild berries and honey, and were attacked by mosquitoes. They were also worried that poisonous snakes could attack them.
"We were afraid that poisonous snakes could attack us," Mr. Kiambi said.
The men were spotted perched on rocks on the small island the following day, ending speculation that the three could have been washed away by floods.
They were airlifted by the police on Monday, after a crowd that had camped on the river bank, all along praying and desperately appealing for the rescue of the three, broke into song and dance after citing a police chopper.
Similar cases of locals getting marooned after the River Athi suddenly swells are common.
Two fishermen who had been marooned at the Kwa Kikata section of the river were evacuated by the police the day before the three men were rescued.
