Mystery Surrounds Disappearance of Veteran Tour Guide on Mt Kenya Hike

By : Mweru Mbugua 

A family in Katheri village, Meru County, is living in anguish following the mysterious disappearance of a seasoned tour guide during a hiking expedition on Mount Kenya

Samuel Macharia, a veteran mountain guide with 15 years of experience, went missing on December 23 while leading a group of hikers that included two Japanese tourists

The group of seven had set out from Nanyuki Town early in the morning, determined to scale Africa’s second-highest mountain

According to accounts from the family, the team entered Mount Kenya National Park through the Sirimon Gate and was trekking between Old Moses Camp and Shipton’s Camp when Macharia suddenly disappeared

His personal belongings were reportedly found along the trail, raising initial suspicions that the disappearance may have been deliberate

Macharia was last seen before the group reached the summit, and efforts to trace his whereabouts have so far yielded no success

For more than two weeks, relatives and friends have been conducting searches across the rugged terrain, enduring harsh weather conditions in hopes of finding him

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Despite the prolonged search, the family remains hopeful that Macharia is still alive. They believe he may have found his way to outlying villages and could eventually resurface

However, the family has expressed frustration with what they describe as insufficient logistical support from Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) rescue teams. In response, KWS has stated that it is working closely with the family and police officers to trace the missing guide

As days turn into weeks, anxiety continues to mount for Macharia’s loved ones. They say finding him alive or dead would at least bring closure to the painful uncertainty they have endured since his disappearance