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Fear and grief engulfed residents of Athi Ward in Kitui County after a tragic crocodile attack at River Athi claimed the lives of two residents, sparking renewed calls for urgent intervention to protect communities living along the dangerous river.
The heartbreaking incident happened on Tuesday evening when Catherine Wambua, a resident of the area, went to fetch water from the river before she was attacked by a crocodile at the riverbank. Witnesses said panic spread quickly as nearby residents watched helplessly during the terrifying incident.
In an act of bravery, a man from the opposite side of the river reportedly rushed into the water in an attempt to rescue the woman. Unfortunately, the crocodile also attacked him, and both victims disappeared into the river waters.
The tragedy triggered a massive search operation involving residents from Ilengi, Mukameni, Monguni and Muambani villages, who combed the river throughout the evening despite the dangers posed by crocodiles and hippos known to inhabit River Athi.
The search mission resumed on Wednesday with the support of Gladys Mami Kivoto, who joined residents and local leaders in efforts to recover the bodies.
Speaking during the exercise, Hon. Kivoto described the incident as devastating and painful for the entire community, noting that repeated attacks along River Athi had continued to threaten the lives of residents who depended on the river for domestic water use.
She emphasized the urgent need for long-term solutions to reduce human-wildlife conflict in the area, saying many families had no alternative source of water apart from the dangerous river.
The legislator pledged to push for projects aimed at pumping water from River Athi to safer collection points away from the riverbanks in order to protect residents, especially women and children who frequently fetch water from the river.
Hon. Kivoto also conveyed her condolences to the bereaved families and extended financial support towards the affected family and residents involved in the search and rescue operation.
By Wednesday evening, the body of Catherine Wambua had been recovered, while efforts to trace the second victim continued amid heightened fears among residents living near the river.
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