The body of a 26-year-old man, who had been missing for over a week, has been discovered floating at the Gurusalal Water Fall in Shauri Yako, Eldama Ravine Sub County.
The discovery comes amid speculation that the deceased may have committed suicide after losing Sh2000 in a bet he had placed.
Family members who had spent sleepless nights searching for their kin identified the body as that of Fredrick Kiptui, whose disappearance left them in distress, especially after his phone went-off on the day they realized he was not coming home.
The late Kiptui’s wife Naomi Jelagat, recalled his troubling last words before his disappearance, saying he had intimated that he was unwell.
“He told me ‘I’m not feeling well. My body will be found in the water’,” said Naomi with an indication that her husband may have known what would befall him.
According to Joel Chepkwony, the Koibatek Sub-County Police Commander, the body was found clothed, though it appeared to have been in the water for several days, as signs of decomposition were evident.
The police confirmed the identity of the body with the help of Kiptui’s family, who had reported him missing, Wednesday, of the previous week.
“At present, the cause of death remains unclear. The body showed no visible injuries, which raises questions about the circumstances surrounding his death,” stated Chepkwony, adding that the matter was under investigation by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) to determine whether the death was a result of suicide or some other cause.
Further concerns have been raised by Kiptui’s recent social media activity. In his last post, dated just five days before his body was found, he wrote, “Good day guys, I’m not feeling well today. I may sleep a little bit longer than usual; I call it eternal sleep.” This cryptic message, paired with the loss of money in a gaming app. famously know as aviator has led to speculation that Kiptui might have found the loss too big bear
His close friends have revealed that Kiptui had recently lost Sh2,000 while playing the Aviator game, which may have added to his emotional distress.
However, without concrete evidence, authorities are focusing on all possible leads as they work to uncover the truth.
The body has been transferred to Mercy Mission Hospital Mortuary for a post-mortem examination, which will hopefully shed more light on the circumstances surrounding his untimely death.
While the investigation is ongoing, the Shauri Yako community remains in shock over the tragic loss of a young man with so much life ahead of him.
By Maureen Chesang and Christopher Kiprop
