NAIROBI, Kenya — Three people have drowned in separate incidents across the country as heavy rains continue to swell rivers, police have confirmed. Two other deaths — one in Nyeri and another in Mombasa — are under investigation as homicide cases.
The victims include a three-year-old girl who drowned in an underground water tank in Juja, Kiambu County.
In Itabua, Embu County, the body of 46-year-old Martin Mwangi was found floating in River Rupingazi on March 2. Police suspect he slipped and fell while crossing a makeshift wooden bridge. Officers moved the body to the mortuary pending an autopsy.
In Murera, Juja, a three-year-old girl drowned in an underground water tank within a residential compound. Members of the public retrieved her body and found it lying beside the tank.
It was established that she had been playing with other children when she accidentally slipped into the uncovered tank. Her body was also taken to the mortuary for an autopsy.
In Nairobi’s Lucky Summer area, 39-year-old Nelson Maloba drowned in the Nairobi River, which has swollen following heavy rains. His body was moved to the mortuary pending a post-mortem examination.
Officials warned that most rivers are currently swollen and urged Kenyans to exercise caution near water bodies. The onset of long rains has historically led to a spike in drowning incidents, particularly in informal settlements and rural crossings where infrastructure is weak.
Drowning remains one of the leading causes of accidental deaths in Kenya. Incidents are frequently reported in homes, swimming pools, open water tanks, and water-filled trenches. Safety experts have often called for better enforcement of building standards and secure covering of underground tanks in residential areas.
Meanwhile, detectives in Othaya, Nyeri County, are investigating the murder of 45-year-old Peter Ngari. His body was found by the roadside on March 2 with visible head and back injuries. Police said the body was moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy as investigations continue. The motive remains unclear.
In a separate incident in Magongo, Changamwe, Mombasa County, 24-year-old Gabriel Ambasa died after he was stabbed in the stomach during a fight at a drinking den. He was rushed to the hospital but succumbed to his injuries days later.
Police have arrested a suspect in connection with the stabbing and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the altercation.
Authorities say murder cases have been on the rise despite ongoing efforts to curb violent crime. Security agencies have reiterated calls for communities to resolve disputes amicably and report potential threats before they escalate.
The latest tragedies highlight persistent safety gaps — from unsecured water infrastructure to unsafe river crossings — even as heavy rains intensify risks across the country.
