Shock as Decomposing Body Found Near River in Chepngetuny Village
By Robert Siele
Chepngetuny Village in Belgut, Kericho County, was thrown into shock and mourning after the decomposing body of a middle-aged man was discovered in a thicket along River Cheplebegon.
Kapcheluch Sub-location Chief, Collins Ruto, confirmed the incident, saying he received a distress call early Monday morning from concerned villagers.
“It was around 8:30 am when I got a call from Chepngetuny about a rotting body found near the river. A large crowd had already gathered at the scene, and I immediately alerted the police,” said Chief Ruto while speaking to Kass Digital.
The chief noted that residents had been complaining about a persistent foul smell coming from the river, which women frequently visit to fetch water for household use.
“The women who use the river daily raised concerns about the stench. They informed the village men, who quickly organized a search,” he explained.
The search, led by village elder Geoffrey Rono and two others, led to the grim discovery of the body hidden in a bush near the riverbank.
Following the discovery, the chief contacted officers from Kabianga Police Post and Sosiot Police Station, who arrived at the scene and launched investigations into the incident.
There was speculation that the deceased might be a student from the nearby Belgut Technical Training Institute due to the proximity of the institution. However, Chief Ruto dismissed the claims.
“In my estimation, the man was aged between 35 and 40 years, which rules out the possibility of him being a student. Moreover, I haven’t received any missing person report from the institution,” he stated.
The body, which remains unidentified, was taken to the Sigowet Sub-county Hospital mortuary. An autopsy is expected to be conducted as police begin investigations to determine the cause of death and identity of the deceased.
