University student drowns while swimming in Kathita River

A university student, Brian Kibet, lost his life in the Kathita River on September 19, 2026. The 19-year-old, a first-year student at Tharaka University, drowned while swimming with three friends. Police received the report around 4:43pm from the university’s president. Kibet and his companions had ventured into the river to swim when he lost his life.

Local divers recovered his body from the river. The body showed no visible injuries. Police took the body to Marimanti Level 4 Hospital for preservation until a postmortem examination could be conducted. Separately, a 16-year-old student, Vincent Katana Karisa, drowned in the Indian Ocean on September 20, 2026. Karisa, a Grade 8 pupil at Kanani Primary School, was found dead along the shore in Watamu, Kilifi County.

He had been swimming with friends when he was reportedly overwhelmed by strong waves. Police from Watamu and Malindi were called to the scene and documented the incident before the body was taken to the Malindi General Hospital mortuary for preservation. Police are actively investigating the circumstances that led to both tragedies.