Rescuers retrieve man's body from Sagana River

Divers from the multi-agency team that on Saturday managed to retrieve the body of Samuel Kagwanja a Sagana businessman a week after a vehicle he was driving plunged into Sagana River at the border of Murang’a and Kirinyaga County. [Boniface Gikandi, Standard]

The body of a man who drowned after his vehicle plunged into Sagana River one week ago has been retrieved.

A multi-agency team retrieved the body of Samuel Kagwanja, 41, alias Chakaka ending the agony of family and friends who have been camping at the river bank.

The body was discovered floating in the river at Mjini area in Sigana about two kilometres from where the businessman's vehicle plunged into the water.

Search efforts were led by Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) officers, Captain Edwin Kaunga Muthomi and Susan Mtakai

Other units involved in the search were the Kenya Coast Guards, the National Police Service and community divers.

Kaunga described the search as hectic as divers faced strong currents in the fast-flowing river following the heavy rains in parts of Murang’a and Nyeri counties.

“The wreckage of the vehicle will be retrieved from the river by the divers,” said the coordinator of the search mission. 

A sentry at National Cereals and Produce Board in Sagana town reported the accident at a local police station prompting the rescue efforts to retrieve the man's body.

He told the police that the driver of the vehicle had attempted to negotiate a corner before it plunged into the river.

The late Kagwanja, whose family owns Chakaka hotel, was driving from Murang’a headed to Sagana.