Residents of Lari Sub-county are requesting the Limuru Water and Sewerage Company to install fencing around Bathi Dam following the discovery of a deceased 29-year-old man’s body floating in the water.
According to local resident Charles Manji, community members are troubled by this incident as well as previous recoveries of human and animal remains from the dam.
Manji explained that the water is supplied directly to homes, and despite treatment processes, locals feel uneasy when corpses are found in the dam.
“We are all deeply concerned when we learn about a body in the dam. This situation is truly regrettable,” he expressed.
Additionally, Manji mentioned that their repeated requests for dam fencing have gone unaddressed, prompting him to urge Governor Kimani Wamatangi to transfer the dam’s management to Lari Municipality, which could facilitate proper fencing.
Several years ago, Lari was part of Limuru Municipality, but now it has its own municipal status. The Governor should promptly transfer projects like the dam from Limuru Municipality to Lari, he suggested.
“Having its own municipality would enable authorities to act swiftly in implementing safety measures such as fencing to prevent drownings of people and animals,” Manji stated.
On Tuesday, Gitau Kibaya’s body was spotted by individuals passing by, as the dam is situated near a road approximately 700 meters from the Nairobi-Nakuru highway leading to Bathi village.
Sub-county Police Commander Emily Ngaruiya verified the incident, noting that the time of drowning remains unknown since the victim’s family had not reported his absence.
However, she confirmed that the deceased was recognized by local residents and family members after the body was recovered.
“It is crucial to contact authorities when a family member is missing. Such notifications significantly aid investigations when unfortunate events occur,” the police commander advised.