A 20-year-old student from Lukenya University has drowned at Tsavo Inn in Mtito Andei, Makueni County, turning what was meant to be a joyful birthday celebration into a tragedy.
The victim, identified as Ben Maxwell Ombui, was a first-year education student. According to his family, he had gone to Tsavo Inn on his birthday after paying for food and swimming services. However, his outing ended in disaster when he drowned in the hotel’s pool.
Family members have raised serious concerns over how the matter was handled, claiming that the hotel failed to immediately report the incident to police. Instead, the management allegedly transported Ben’s body to a nearby hospital in a private vehicle, where he was pronounced dead.
An autopsy conducted at the Mtito Andei morgue confirmed drowning as the cause of death. The family has demanded a full investigation, questioning the absence of lifeguards and other safety measures at the facility.
“We want the police and DCI to investigate why there were no lifeguards and why the case was not reported in time. Someone must be held accountable,” a family member said.
The tragedy has sparked calls for stricter enforcement of safety regulations in hotels and recreational facilities. Child and youth rights advocates insist that establishments offering swimming services must ensure proper emergency protocols, trained lifeguards, and immediate reporting of accidents.
As the family mourns their son, they are appealing to authorities to ensure justice is served and that no other family suffers a similar loss.
