Protests after body of missing principal is found in river

Detectives are investigating the death of a school principal whose body was found floating on a river days after he went missing in Lugari, Kakamega county.

The body of Simon Isiaho Shange, who was the principal of Munyuki Secondary, was found floating on Kipkaren River on Saturday morning.

The discovery on Saturday prompted a protest in the area, with locals and students from the school invading and attacking Lumakanda Police Station.

Police said the angry mob damaged the window panes of the station and some cars that were parked there.

This was hours after the body had been recovered and moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy.

The cause of the death is yet to be known, and police argued they were pursuing both drowning and murder theories.

The protesters were later dispersed from the scene as police vowed justice for the death.

The controversy surrounding the incident started on November 3, 2025, after a road accident along the Eldoret–Malaba Highway, in which the Munyuki High School principal was reportedly involved before his mysterious disappearance.

This has prompted speculations in the area, which has turned political.

Western police commander Issa Mohamud said they are determined to solve the saga.

He said a team of experts is handling the incident with the aim of solving it.

Elsewhere in Kandutura, Nyandarua county, a 73-year-old man was found murdered following an altercation with his brother.

Police said the brother was arrested over the murder. The body was found with injuries in his head, left leg, knees and foam oozing from the mouth.

A team of detectives is investigating the murder.

Meanwhile, police in Nandi Hills, Nandi county are investigating the death of a man after he had consumed what was deemed a poisonous brew.

Two other men were rushed to the hospital after they were found lying unconscious outside a wines and spirits joint in Chemomi area.

Police said Dancun Kipkemboi, 31, died on the spot, while the other two were rushed to the hospital in stable condition. Samples of the drink that the three had taken were taken for tests, police said.

The body was moved to the mortuary pending an autopsy to establish the cause of the death.

The incident comes after a similar one happened in Mutuati, Meru county where two men died after consuming a poisonous drink.

It also comes amid an ongoing countrywide operation targeting illicit brew and drugs. Dozens of suspects have since been arrested and arraigned in the operations.

Thousands of litres of the brew and kilos of drugs, including bhang, have been seized and destroyed in the exercise, police say.