Four University Students Drown in a River in Tharaka Nithi

The bodies of four university students who drowned in River Kathita in Tharaka Nithi County on Saturday have been retrieved.

The four drowned during a swimming expedition photo session by a group of students from Tharaka University College.

Three bodies were recovered on Saturday evening while the fourth was retrieved from the waters on Sunday, according to the National Police Service spokesperson Bruno Shioso.

Police and local administrators said the students had gone swimming when the tragedy occurred.

“The first student had difficulty coming out the water as they swam, and that is when two others tried to rescue him but they too drowned. The fourth one also drowned when he jumped in to try to rescue the three,” a witness said.

Two other students nearly drowned while trying to rescue their colleagues, but they were saved by locals. 

Bodies of the deceased students were moved to Marimanti hospital mortuary pending postmortem and formal identification.