It was a tragic Easter celebration in Mbiri village in Kenya, after a selfie-taking couple were swept away by a torrent of water at River Nyamindi.
The couple, Dickson Mugo, 36, and Caroline Wangui, 20, were reportedly on a motorcycle at the bank of the river when the tragic incident occurred.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the duo hailed from Mucharage village in Gichugu, Kirinyaga, and are said to have visited the river in Mbiri village to enjoy its breathtaking spectacle.
An eyewitness who narrated the incident said: “ Efforts to shout at them to run for their lives were futile. In fact, the lady seemed to enjoy the rush of water for their background photo. They seemed not to have seen it before. ”
“ I was heading home from church when the Area Elder called and informed me that two people had been swept away by the river. I mobilised some boda boda ( Commercial motorcycle) riders to go rescue them but by the time they reached there, it was too late. The victims and their motorbike had been swept downstream, ” said another resident.
Residents have now cautioned visitors touring the site to be careful given the river’s unpredictably raging waters.
It was learnt that many people have lost their lives at the river with their bodies being swept and not recovered.
“ This is one of the deadliest rivers around. When it rains upstream and it doesn’t rain down here, many people don’t realise that the water flows with force and sweeps everything it finds on the way.
“ About eight kilometres from here, a woman has also been rescued after she slid into the river. Luckily, she managed to hold onto the twigs alongside the river, ” another resident had said.
Area Police boss Antony Mbogo said an operation was underway to retrieve the bodies.
Mbogo urged residents and visitors to be careful while touring the river.