Two miners found dead in gold mining pit in Meru after suspected drowning

Two men believed to be miners were found dead in a pit believed to have been used for gold mining in Mutuati Sub-County, Meru county.

According to police, the Meru County Government Emergency Response Services team based in Maua responded to the scene and arrived on April 11, where they successfully retrieved the bodies from the pit.

The deceased were identified as 28-year-old Jackson Murithi, who was found wearing yellow shorts, and 69-year-old Henry Maore, who was dressed in black long trousers.

Authorities processed and documented the scene before moving the bodies to Nyambene Hospital mortuary, where they are being preserved pending post-mortem examinations.

Police have launched investigations to determine the exact circumstances that led to the incident.

Gold deposits are believed to be in the area, and the victims had ventured in there when they drowned. The shaft was full of water following rains experienced in the area.

Elsewhere, police in Mutuati Sub-County, Meru County, are investigating an electrocution incident that claimed the life of a 48-year-old man.

According to the police, the deceased, identified as Stephen Muturia and was found unresponsive on the rooftop of a house within a residential compound.

Police visited the scene and established that the man had been electrocuted. His body was found lying face down on a naked electric wire, with blood and mucus observed coming from his mouth and nose.

The scene was processed and documented before the body was moved to Nyambene Sub-County Hospital mortuary, where it is awaiting a post-mortem examination.

Investigations are ongoing to determine the circumstances that led to the fatal incident.

Meanwhile, police in Athi River South Subcounty, Machakos county, are investigating an incident in which a man died while harvesting sand at a quarry.

The incident involved a male adult who became trapped while working at the sand quarry.

Police responded to the scene and established that the deceased, identified as 29-year-old Stephen Mutua, had been trapped by a large stone during the sand harvesting activity.

He sustained fatal injuries as a result of the incident.

The scene was processed and documented, and the body was moved to Machakos Funeral Home mortuary, where it awaits a post-mortem examination.

Such cases are common at the sand harvesting sites amid calls for the managers to ensure safety of their workers.