The body of an unknown man has been retrieved from Kesses Water Treatment Plant in Uasin Gishu County, bringing to eight the number of cases of drowning reported in the county since the beginning of the year.

The man is said to have died after he plunged into the dam with his motive yet to be established.

According to residents, the deceased gained unauthorised access to the facility and jumped into one of the water treatment tanks.

“We spotted him hanging around the water treatment plant, but we didn’t suspect that he had plans of taking his own life. Many people usually come here to take photos and leave,” said David Chelule, a resident.

Efforts by Eldoret Water and Sanitation (Eldowas) company staff to rescue the deceased proved futile.

The body was moved to the Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital (MTRH), Eldoret mortuary, pending a post-mortem examination and identification.

In a statement, Eldowas conveyed its condolences to the bereaved family even as it assured its customers of the water safety following the incident.

“In response to the incident, Eldowas has taken immediate steps to safeguard public health. As a precautionary measure, the Kesses water treatment plant has been temporarily shut down,” Eldowas Managing Director Lawrence Tanui said.

According to the company, comprehensive cleaning, flushing and disinfection of the treatment tanks and pipeline is currently underway under the supervision of public health authorities.

Tanui added that additional laboratory testing is being conducted to ensure all water meets regulatory safety standards before the supply is restored.

He said to minimise service disruption, alternative water supply arrangements have been activated in the affected areas.

“We appreciate our customers’ patience and will continue to provide updates through our official communication channels,” said Tanui.