Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County — On Sunday, tension hung in the air around Ngeria Dam. A middle‑aged man, a driver by profession, is missing after he drowned while washing a school van.
Uasin Gishu police commander Benjamin Mwanthi confirmed that the victim had gone to the dam to wash the vehicle. “He was swimming there,” Mr Mwanthi said. “Sadly, he drowned.” Divers and officers from the police and fire services have been searching for his body since, but have so far found nothing.
This is not an isolated tragedy. Ngeria lies in a region scarred by quarry pits turned water‑filled hazards. David Kering, the local ward MCA, said such incidents are all too common. He demanded urgent action. “We must fence off these dams born of quarrying,” he said. “Lives are being lost here repeatedly.”
Reports confirm multiple drownings in abandoned quarry‑turned dams across Eldoret. In one dramatic case, divers retrieved the wrong body—decomposed and not the one relatives were hoping for—thus showing how dangerous and chaotic these sites can be. In another, villagers blocked the Eldoret‑Nakuru highway in protest when a school‑leaver drowned and rescue efforts stalled.
Advocates emphasize that these are avoidable tragedies. Experts stress that many of these dams are unmarked, unfenced, and tempting during hot spells. All it takes is a slip, a moment of misjudgment, and the outcome can be fatal.
Residents around Ngeria are worried and frustrated. They say they’ve lost too many neighbours to these flooded pits. With emergency crews stretched thin, local leaders like David Kering argue that fencing and signage aren’t just sensible—they are urgent.
At the same time, authorities face constraints. Rescue teams often arrive late, especially when fatalities occur in deep, murky waters. Police are clear: not all incidents spell foul play. Many appear to be accidents, reflective of desperation or neglect. Anyone attempting rescue in such conditions risks their own life.
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