The body of an elderly man was recovered from a hole that had been left open by the roadside in Ithanga location, Machakos County.
The man vanished on Monday, only to be found dead, three days after he left his home for an evening chat with his friends in a local bar at Ngililya market.
On Thursday morning students of Nthungululu Secondary School spotted the head of a man floating in the hole that had been meant for a toilet but had since been filled with water after it had been neglected and left open.
The students who had gone to fetch water near the place saw the body and immediately reported to the area residents who alerted the police who removed the body and took it to Ndithini Mission hospital mortuary.
According to Timothy Kaandiki the Ndithini area chief, the man was drunk so he could not save himself after he fell into the hole.
“It looks like the old man lost his way while walking down the road and staggered into the hole,” said Kaandiki.
He noted that abandoned toilet holes have increased in the location which was dangerous as some are close to busy routes used by many people.
Addressing area residents, who had gathered at the scene, Kaandiki urged the local church, which is believed to have abandoned the toilet hole, to take responsible measures and fence the place.
“I urge the area residents to be aware and take great caution while approaching the hole,” he said.