A man who was rescued from drowning in a raging river was given a dog’s beating by his rescuer who felt he had been careless and endangered his own life.
In the video, the Zimbabwean man was seen almost being swept away by the floodwaters, but luckily, another man ran and pulled him to safety.
As soon as he was pulled out, he received a beating on his body once they reached safety. Onlookers recording the incident appeared to plead with the rescuer to stop beating the victim after repeatedly slapping him.
There have been several warnings against crossing swollen rivers. Kenyans have been saddened by the lack of support amidst records of floods.
A 54-year-old man died after attempting to cross a river in the Nyahururu area on April 29.
Witnesses said, after two hours of heavy rain, many people living in the Maina village were stranded on one side of the stream from the town of Nyahururu as the Gathaara stream had burst its banks when James Njora Kahiga arrived and ignored their plea not to cross the stream.
Nyahururu police retrieved the body after it was found trapped along the stream, which is one of the water sources for Thomson Falls.
In Garissa County, three bodies were recovered from an area flooded in Kona Punda along the Garissa-Madogo Road, where a boat carrying 41 passengers capsized on Sunday evening.
The tragic incident occurred around half-past twelve in the afternoon, making it difficult for the Kenya Red Cross rescue team from Garissa, and Tana River counties to operate as darkness was setting in. However, they managed to rescue 22 people.
Kenya’s Interior Security Minister, Kithure Kindiki, warned against such risky behavior two days ago.
In a statement on Monday, April 29, 2024, Kindiki complained that there were reports of ongoing risky behavior by drivers and pedestrians resulting in loss of life.
“The government is deeply saddened by the loss of lives and destruction of public and private property due to ongoing floods.
“Are there reports of ongoing risky behavior by drivers and pedestrians and failure by members of the public to heed weather forecasts and voluntary evacuation advice,” Kindiki said.