RUMURUTI, LAIKIPIA COUNTY – A search is ongoing for the body of a 41-year-old man who drowned in a community dam in Laikipia County on Monday, leaving his family in distress and exposing critical gaps in the county's emergency response capabilities. Mbugua Kiarie, a father and long-time resident, accidentally slipped and fell into the Limunga Community Dam on the evening of Monday, November 10, 2025, while fishing with his 13-year-old son, according to multiple media reports.

The tragic incident, which occurred at a dam vital for local irrigation and fishing, has left the community in Rumuruti reeling. As of Thursday, November 13, 2025, Mr. Kiarie's body had not been recovered. Efforts by the family and local residents to retrieve him have been severely hampered by a lack of professional divers and appropriate equipment, forcing them to appeal for external help.

Witnesses and family members reported that initial attempts by local private divers were unsuccessful. The divers struggled to navigate the dam's murky waters, which conceal dangerous obstacles such as mud and submerged tree stumps that have reportedly injured at least one rescuer.

A Community's Frustration

The prolonged and so-far-fruitless recovery effort has ignited frustration among residents, who have voiced sharp criticism of the Laikipia County government's disaster management department. Community members on the scene told reporters that no official rescue team from the county had been deployed to assist in the search.

“No one has shown up here to help. The county government said they have no means to assist,” one resident told KTN News on Wednesday, November 12. Another resident added, “No one under the disaster management department has been employed to handle such incidents.” This has left the family and community feeling abandoned as they grapple with the loss.

The incident raises serious questions about the preparedness of county governments to handle such emergencies. Earlier this year, on May 3, 2024, the Laikipia County leadership, including Deputy Governor Reuben Kamuri and County Commissioner Onesmus Kyatha, held a high-level meeting to discuss disaster preparedness for the rainy season. A statement from the county government at the time announced the formation of a secretariat for "24/7 monitoring and dissemination of real time crucial information... for timely response." However, the response to the Limunga Dam tragedy suggests a significant disconnect between planned strategy and on-the-ground reality.

A National Problem of Water Safety

Mr. Kiarie's death is the latest in a string of drowning incidents across Kenya, highlighting a persistent public safety issue. Water bodies, from rivers and lakes to dams and quarries, frequently claim lives. According to 2020 data from the World Health Organization (WHO), Kenya recorded approximately 1,200 drowning fatalities, accounting for 0.46% of total deaths that year. The WHO notes that over 90% of drowning deaths occur in low- and middle-income countries, often during routine activities like fishing.

In Laikipia specifically, dams have been the site of previous tragedies. In May 2024, the body of a 12-year-old boy was recovered from the Kisiriri River in Rumuruti after drowning. These recurring incidents underscore the calls from residents for the government to not only improve its emergency response but also to implement preventative safety measures around water bodies and equip local communities with basic rescue and swimming skills.

The family of Mbugua Kiarie continues to wait by the dam, appealing to any relevant authorities to help them retrieve his body for a proper burial. Their painful vigil serves as a stark reminder of the human cost of inadequate local disaster preparedness and the broader water safety challenges facing communities across Kenya.