Boda boda rider drowns in Kitui river after heavy rains

The motorbike that was recovered from River Ithekethe on Saturday/Musembi Nzengu.

Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua speaking at the banks of River Ithekethe on Saturday/Musembi Nzengu.

Kitui Senator Enoch Wambua on Saturday joined Kyondoni villagers in searching for the body of a boda boda rider who drowned in Ithekethe River on Saturday.

The rider was swept away by raging waters as he attempted to cross the swollen river. Heavy rains pounded Kitui West of Friday night, causing flash floods with rivers bursting their banks.

The rider was heading to his Mithini village home from Kabati trading center on Friday evening when he drowned.

Senator Wambua was among residents who arrived early at the scene to help in the search mission.

The motor cycle was recovered a few meters downstream.

Wambua asked residents to keep off flooded rivers.

The senator said it was regrettable that floods following heavy rains have killed over 80 people countrywide.

He urged Kenyans to avoid crossing flooded surfaces.

Wambua asked the Kitui government to put up a foot-bridge across Ithekethe River for residents to safely cross even when the river is swollen.

Kauwi area chief Thomas Munyao said the boda boda rider was swept away by the raging waters between 9pm and 10pm on Friday.

The chief said the recovery of the motorbike showed that the owner could have been separated with his machine after drowning.

The search mission is being coordinated by Red Cross officials assisted by local divers.