This archive report was first published on 6 May 2020.
Heavy rains in Baringo have claimed eight lives in less than a week, including two quarry workers who died in Eldama Ravine a fortnight ago.
On April 30, 2020, a police truck, popularly known as 'Mariamu', was ferrying 12 officers to a disarmament operation in East Pokot, Baringo South, and North Sub-counties when it got stuck in a drift on River Kagir.
One officer was saved when he answered a call of nature, but his colleagues trying to push the vehicle off the drift were swept by sudden floods at 8:30 pm.
Four others were rescued on Friday, while five bodies were recovered on the same day. The last body to be retrieved was on Saturday before the rains surged again.
According to Baringo County Police Commander Robinson Ndiwa, the recovery mission was hampered by heavy rains pounding the area, causing the seasonal river to swell two-fold.
"The body of Noah Kipng'eno, who was the driver of the ill-fated police truck, was recovered 40 kilometres away from where the truck was swept at Nginyang Bridge," said Ndiwa.
The recovered bodies have been transferred to Umash funeral home, and plans for their burial are underway.
Despite the accident, the Baringo County Commissioner, Henry Wafula, has assured that the security operation to disarm the cattle rustlers will continue.
"An accident affecting 12 officers cannot stop a planned disarmament operation by the government. We have enough resources to carry out our mandate," Wafula said.
