NAIROBI, Kenya — The Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) has confirmed the death of a porter who went missing while trekking on Mount Kenya, ending a 17-day multi-agency search operation across one of the country’s most dangerous alpine terrains.
In a statement issued on Saturday, KWS said the body of Mr. Samuel Macharia Wanjohi was located on January 9, 2026, in the Hinde Valley area, off the Marania trail, at an altitude of approximately 4,300 metres above sea level.
Mr. Wanjohi had been reported missing on December 23, 2025, while trekking along the Sirimon–Shipton route within Mt. Kenya National Park.
“Kenya Wildlife Service regrets to report the loss of life of Mr. Samuel Macharia Wanjohi, whose body has been located,” the agency said.
Following the disappearance, KWS said it activated its Mountain Search and Rescue Unit in line with its statutory mandate to provide safety and emergency response services within protected mountain ecosystems. A formal missing-person report was also recorded at Chogoria Police Station under OB No. 30/24/2/2025.
The search operation expanded into a large-scale, multi-agency rescue effort involving KWS rangers, the National Police Service, mountain guides, porters, and members of the local mountain community, including relatives of the deceased.
According to KWS, teams conducted day-and-night operations covering Shipton Camp, Austrian Hut, Mackinder’s Valley, Sendeyo, Hide Valley, Mintos, the Timau Route, and surrounding high-risk areas.
The operation was supported by aerial surveillance and extensive ground patrols despite what the agency described as extreme weather, rugged terrain, and poor visibility.
“Throughout the operation, KWS worked in close coordination with the National Police Service and was assisted by mountain guides and porters, including family members and members of the local mountain community. Their courage, resilience, and solidarity were instrumental in the search efforts,” the statement said.
The discovery of the body brings a tragic close to what had become an increasingly complex and resource-intensive rescue mission, highlighting the dangers faced by porters and guides who support Kenya’s lucrative mountain tourism industry.
Under Kenyan law, KWS is responsible for visitor safety and emergency response in national parks, including high-altitude environments such as Mount Kenya, where severe weather, altitude sickness, and treacherous terrain pose constant risks.
The agency’s rescue mandate is anchored in the Wildlife Conservation and Management Act, which assigns it both conservation and public safety responsibilities.
KWS said it continues to strengthen mountain safety systems, emergency preparedness, and coordinated response mechanisms across Kenya’s protected highland landscapes.
“KWS conveys its condolences to the family, friends, fellow porters, guides, and the entire Mt. Kenya mountain community during this time of grief,” the agency said.
As investigations and post-mortem processes begin, the tragedy underscores the human cost behind Kenya’s adventure tourism economy and the growing calls for stronger protections for the workers who make it possible.
