A week-long search for a missing construction worker at the Talanta Sports Stadium ended tragically on Saturday morning, September 13, when his body was discovered inside a water sump at the site. 

The victim, identified as 35-year-old Sammy Kyengo, had been reported missing by his wife a week earlier. 

His body was found floating in a sump hidden behind boards beneath the terraces currently under construction on the left side of the stadium.

According to media reports, the discovery was made at around 9 am by a casual labourer who was clearing one of the rooms for plastering. 

The worker noticed the covered sump and, after moving the boards, came across Kyengo’s body.

Investigators who arrived at the scene said the deceased bore visible injuries on the back of his head and the right side of his neck. 

Additionally, blood was also seen seeping from his nose and mouth, complicating the circumstances surrounding his death.

The body was later transported to the Nairobi Funeral Home after forensic teams processed the scene.

News of the discovery sent shockwaves among workers at the project site. 

"We are shocked to hear that there was a body recovered submerged inside water. We are shocked and asking ourselves, ‘in whose hands are we safe?’" Ivan Bongo, a fellow construction worker, told the press.

Meanwhile, the Kenya Defence Forces (KDF) personnel retrieved the body of a middle-aged man who drowned at Chepkorio Dam in Ngeria, Uasin Gishu County.

In a statement on Sunday, September 14, KDF said the recovery was carried out by a joint team from the Kenya Navy Clearance Diving Unit (KN CDU) and the 9th Battalion, Kenya Rifles (9 KR) following days of unsuccessful search efforts.

"The recovery, conducted on 13 September 2025, marked the culmination of a six-day search and rescue operation. Earlier attempts by other agencies and local divers had been unsuccessful due to the dam’s 80-foot depth and difficult underwater conditions," the statement read.

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According to KDF, it deployed specialised equipment to overcome the unique challenges of the search.

"To overcome these challenges, KDF deployed a specialised team equipped with advanced JJ Closed Circuit Rebreather (CCR) systems, which provided longer dive durations and extended search range beyond the limits of conventional SCUBA equipment.

"This capability enabled the divers to successfully locate and recover the body in a much shorter time," the statement added.

KDF described the operation as part of its wider humanitarian mandate and further sent a message of condolence to the deceased's family.

"The operation highlighted the professionalism, technical expertise, and commitment of KDF personnel in humanitarian response, reflecting the wider mission of the Kenya Defence Forces in supporting national resilience and emergency operations. 

"KDF extends its heartfelt condolences to the family of the deceased. May they find comfort and strength during this difficult time," the statement concluded.