K24 journalist Daniel Chemjor dies after car plunges into gorge

Volunteer divers, with the help of a crane, retrieve the car that plunged in Cheploch Gorge in River Kerio on November 21, 2019. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Vehicle has been retrieved from the crocodile-infested Cheploch Gorge.
  • The body of the K24 TV producer Daniel Chemjor was pulled out on Thursday afternoon.
  • Chemjor, 40, who hailed from Kiboino in Baringo Central, was on paternity leave at the time of his death.

The driver of a car that plunged into Cheploch Gorge on Wednesday night has been identified as a television journalist working for Mediamax Network.

The body of the K24 TV producer Daniel Chemjor was pulled out on Thursday afternoon after his vehicle was retrieved from the gorge along River Kerio at the border of Elgeyo-Marakwet and Baringo counties.

Elgeyo-Marakwet County Commissioner Ahmed Omar has confirmed his identity.

"He was the only occupant. I suspect he was speeding because the car lost control before it hit a guard rail and plunged into the crocodile-infested gorge," said Dr Omar.

People mill around Cheploch Gorge to catch a glimpse of on November 21, 2019. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

PATERNITY LEAVE

Chemjor, 40, who hailed from Kiboino in Baringo Central, was on paternity leave at the time of his death.

He had been with a group of friends at Big 5 Club, an entertainment spot about two kilometres from the scene of the accident.

Joseph Kurui, the club's manager, said Chemjor left at around 11pm.

"He left in high spirits insisting that he was late home. I do not think he was speeding because he had not taken any alcohol," said Mr Kurui.

Joseph Kiptegen, Chemjor’s uncle, said he began his leave on November 10 and was about to resume work in Nairobi.

"It's sad that we have lost such an industrious, hardworking man. Daniel was on a paternity leave and he was preparing to resume work," said Mr Kiptegen.

Police look through identification documents found in the car retrieved from Cheploch Gorge on November 21, 2019. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

DEDICATED

Mediamax acting CEO Ken Ngaruiya said he was “deeply saddened” to learn of Chemjor’s death.

“Daniel Chemjor was highly respected by managers and employees alike throughout the entire company,” he said in a message to staff and the journalist’s family.

“He was regarded as a dedicated worker by everyone who worked with him."

Chemjor’s contributions to the company were many and varied, he added.

K24 TV producer Daniel Chemjor's car after it was retrieved from the Cheploch Gorge on November 21, 2019. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

“I am well aware of the difference he made in the lives of many people, both here in the company and his private life. Many will miss him,” he said of the journalist who had worked for Mediamax for seven years.

“Each of us not only grieves at the passing of Chemjor, who was with no doubt a tremendous individual, but also for the loss his family has suffered.”

RETRIEVAL

A crane is used to retrieve a car that plunged into Cheploch Gorge on the border of Elgeyo-Marakwet and Baringo counties on November 21, 2019. PHOTO | JARED NYATAYA | NATION MEDIA GROUP

To retrieve the car, the police sought assistance from SBI Construction Company that brought a crane to the scene.

The vehicle is reported to have veered off the road and hit a guard rail at the Kerio River bridge, before it rolled and plunged into the water.