Menacing hippos hinder boy’s rescue operations in Athi River

 A search operation for the body of a 13-year-old boy who on Friday drowned in Athi River in Kitui County was called off prematurely due to presence of menacing hippos.

The search mission for the body of the standard six boy at Kathome primary school was called off pre-maturely due to the presence of hippos.                           

The area chief for Nthongoni location in Kitui Rural sub county Willie Mutunga had to order the first responders from continuing the search after hippos were seen approaching the area where the divers were searching for the body.

Tragedy struck Kathemboni village after boy mysteriously disappeared while on a swimming expedition in Athi River.

Rescue operation for the young boy whose body was believed to be trapped in rocks under the waters had to be abruptly called off due to the presence of the marauding and dangerous hippos.

An uncle to the drowned boy Philip Mulee lamented that even at the time the search mission was suspended before 6pm, no properly equipped expert divers from either the county or national government had arrived to offer help.

According to Chief Mutunga, the rescue operation will resume tomorrow morning once the safety of the divers was guaranteed. 

Mulee said it was the family hope and prayer that the body of their kin will be found sooner than later to put a closure on the matter.  

The body of the boy was at 7am on Saturday discovered floating on the waters and retrieved by fishermen. It was then transported by police to Kitui County Referral Hospital morgue for preservation as burial plans got underway.

STORY By JOHN SYENGO