Kenyan man found dead in Texas, US

Geoffrey Chepkwony's body was found by members of the public near a bridge in Texas.

Photo credit: Courtesy

What you need to know:

  • Houston police say they are investigating what could have led to his death.

A Kenyan man was last week found dead in a bayou along Jacinto Street in Texas, US.

A bayou is a body of water typically found near a slow-moving section of a river or lake.

Mr Geoffrey Chepkwony was found dead on Saturday, August 29 in the bayou at 49 San Jacinto Street in Houston. 

The deceased, who hails from Bomet County, went to the US after he got a green card. It is reported that he has no family in America.

Sam Makaya, who once lived with him, said Mr Chepkwony had been on medication after suffering mental problems.

He said they last met on August 26, 2020 but on September 1, he received a call from the medical examiner’s office after running Mr Chepkwony's fingerprints through a database that listed him as a contact. 

The body was found by members of the public who informed the Houston Police Department.

“Witnesses reported seeing a body in Buffalo Bayou near a bridge at the above address. The HPD Dive Team responded to the scene to recover the body,” a report on the station’s website says.

Mr Chepkwony did not have any identification on him, making it harder to figure out who he was.

HPD Homicide Division Sergeant R. Olive and Detective S. Sylvester reported that “there were no signs of trauma found on the male.”

The police further revealed that an investigation into the matter is ongoing. 

Already, plans are underway to airlift his body to the country after Mr Makaya requested for power of attorney from the deceased's mother in Kenya.

Kenyans in Houston are already raising money to foot the bill to send his body home for burial.