In a dramatic rescue operation, a specialized team from the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) has successfully recovered the body of a man who drowned over a week ago in the treacherous waters of the Chepkorio Dam in Uasin Gishu County.
The victim, a school van driver, tragically drowned last Sunday after he reportedly went to wash the vehicle at the dam, a deep body of water that emerged from past quarrying activities in the Ngeria ward area. For six days, efforts by local divers and emergency agencies to locate and retrieve his body were unsuccessful, thwarted by the dam’s extreme depth of approximately 80 feet and challenging underwater conditions.
With hope fading, the call was made for military intervention. Over the weekend, the Kenya Navy Clearance Diving Unit (KN CDU) and specialists from the 9th Battalion, Kenya Rifles (9 KR) answered that call, deploying a highly trained team equipped with cutting-edge technology.
According to a KDF statement issued on Sunday, the divers were armed with advanced JJ Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR) systems. This sophisticated gear, far surpassing the capabilities of conventional SCUBA equipment, allows for significantly longer dive durations and a vastly extended underwater search range.
“This capability enabled the divers to successfully locate and recover the body in a much shorter time,” the KDF stated, highlighting how their specialized training and technology made the critical difference where previous attempts had failed.
The successful yet somber recovery has sparked urgent calls for action from local leaders to prevent future tragedies. Ngeria Ward MCA David Kering has demanded the immediate fencing of the dangerous quarry dams that dot the area.
Kering noted with grave concern that this was not an isolated incident, stating, “several people have lost their lives after drowning in the dam.” His appeal underscores a growing community fear over these unmarked and unprotected deep-water sites, which pose a persistent threat to residents.
The operation stands as a stark reminder of the hidden dangers of abandoned quarry sites and a testament to the specialized skills of the KDF units called upon when civilian resources are pushed beyond their limits.
