Breathtaking Sagana waterfall has lured dozens to breathe their last

Sagana Falls in Muruguru, Nyeri County, boasts its uncanny ability to take one’s breath away, both aesthetically and literally. 

With its deafening roar and monstrous rapids, the majestic waterfall on River Sagana is nature's gift that gives and takes in equal measure.

Its sheer power and raging flow has allowed for the establishment of a 1.5 megawatt hydroelectric power plant run by KenGen.

Aesthetically, its enchanting natural appeal draws hundreds of local and international tourists for picnics and excursions every year. 

But like a mythical creature that uses its mystical beauty to lure unwitting victims to their deaths, Sagana Falls has seen dozens of domestic tourists and locals breathe their last.

Authorities have marked it a danger zone, but curious visitors just cannot keep away. 

In fact, security officials have on multiple occasions cordoned off the area due to the high risks, at times threatening jail terms for those who defy the moratoriums. 

In just a year, at least 10 people have died at the waterfall, with more than a dozen more reported dead in the previous two years.

While a few of the deaths were reported as accidents that occurred as the victims were crossing the river, most of the victims were actually local tourists. Some were also reported as suicide cases.

In the upper part, River Sagana flows gracefully and quietly, until the still waters start cutting deep, high-walled gorges, running over a massive dark bedrock as the rapids gather pace. 

The gullies are up to six feet deep. During rainy seasons, they fill up completely and a misstep is all it takes to wash a human being away.

From the edge of the overhanging cliff-top rock, the water drops more than 100 feet with a deafening roar that is audible hundreds of metres away. The velocity of the water falls is what made the area ideal for power generator KenGen to set up a hydroelectric power station.

The fall is formed out of giant rock caves cutting across the river, splitting the water drops into two small pools. As the water hits the floor below, the currents ease up as the river flows downstream.

Sight to behold

From the base of the waterfall, the towering rock walls and caves are a sight to behold. 

No wonder many people come here for picnics, bird watching and nature trail excursions. The best part is that there are no charges for nature lovers who frequent the scenery.

But as scenic and beautiful as it is, many local tourists and travellers have lost their lives at the waterfalls.

A rickety bridge had been put up across the river linking up Mathira and Nyeri Town constituencies. But heavy rains experienced over the past year saw a section of the bridge washed away. 

Undeterred, some locals still take their chances with death to cross the river. Some cases have been tragic.

Besides the deadly cascade of the water, the pools at the foot of the falls are dangerous to swim in despite being a favourite for thrill seekers. There are cavernous potholes covered by water, which often result in deaths of swimmers.

Even rescuers and experienced divers find it extremely dangerous to attempt rescue missions or retrieval of bodies from these potholes.

Bernard Muhoro, 19, is one of the victims of the falls of death. He was reported to have drowned at the river on February 2 and the search for his body went on for three weeks.

His death came barely two months after Ezra Njenga, an Actuarial Science finalist at Dedan Kimathi University of Technology, drowned as he went swimming with friends.

Usually, it is local divers who take up the daring challenge of retrieving bodies of victims who drown at the falls. 

On multiple occasions, teams from the National Disaster Management Unit and the Kenya Defence Forces have been called in but often abandon the search and retrieval operation, saying diving at the falls would be too risky.  

For them, the risky task is not a job but a voluntary service to help the families of the deceased get closure from burying their kin.

“There is no pay. In most cases we just volunteer to help, even though it is a very risky affair,” Mr Mukiri Thuo, a diver from Muruguru, told the Nation.

Risky assignment

Nyeri County assistant division firefighter and rescuer Paul Wamahiu told the Nation that rescue and retrieval at the Sagana Falls are some of the toughest and riskiest assignments for emergency responders.

“That is a very dangerous spot for both the public and rescue workers. The best divers in the field, including the military, are very cautious of diving there. In most exercises, we seek external assistance. Sometimes the safest option is to wait for the victim’s body to float instead of putting more lives at risk,” Mr Wamahiu said.

Authorities have in the past made attempts to cordon off the area, but without mechanisms to enforce or monitor movement, the peril in the area remains unchecked.

In fact, following the death of the university student, Central Regional Commissioner Wilfred Nyagwanga ordered the arrest of anyone found swimming in the area. He said swimming at the spot would be treated as attempted suicide.

However, it did not take long before another life was lost to the waterfalls.

Now plans are underway to transform the area into a picnic site that will be professionally managed to allow for safe recreational activities.

There are also plans to embed local divers into the Nyeri County Government rescue team, which will assist in rescue missions and safety precaution exercises.