A birthday celebration at the scenic Chesumot Resort in Kericho ended in unimaginable horror on Monday evening when the birthday boy slipped and drowned in a man-made dam as his friends watched helplessly.

The victim, whose identity has been withheld pending family notification, had visited the popular tea-estate destination to celebrate turning a year older. Witnesses report a joyous atmosphere that turned tragic in split seconds. After a photo session on the lush grounds, the group decided to take a boat ride on the resort's expansive water pan.

The Fatal Slip

"He was trying to board the boat when he lost his footing," a shaken witness told police. "One minute he was laughing, the next he was in the water. [...](asc_slot://start-slot-1)We shouted for help, but he went under and didn't come back up."

The incident sparked a frantic 24-hour rescue operation that highlighted the dangers lurking in leisure water bodies:

• Rescuers Overwhelmed: Local divers who responded initially were forced to retreat on Monday night, citing the dam's terrifying depth and poor visibility.
• The Recovery: It took a team of expert divers mobilized from Kisumu to finally locate and retrieve the body on Tuesday evening, bringing a grim closure to what was meant to be a party.

Safety Questions Raised

The body has been moved to the Kericho County Referral Hospital mortuary. As police from Brooke Station open an inquest file, questions are being asked about safety protocols at recreational water facilities. With the rising popularity of "adventure tourism" in the Rift Valley, the lack of standby lifeguards and mandatory life jackets at private dams is a regulatory blind spot that has once again claimed a young life.