Family Appeals for Government Help as Mt. Kenya Guide Vanishes During Climb

By KNA

A family in Nanyuki, Laikipia County, is urgently appealing to the government and security agencies to help trace their missing relative, Samuel Macharia, a seasoned Mt. Kenya mountain guide who disappeared 14 days ago during a climbing expedition.

Macharia, 35, went missing on December 23, 2025, while guiding a group of four fellow guides and two Japanese tourists along the Sirimon route on Mt. Kenya.

According to his elder brother, Daniel Kagwaini, the team departed Nanyuki town early that morning and arrived at Shipton’s Camp at around 2:00 pm after a grueling seven-hour trek. It was upon arrival at the camp that Macharia, who had been carrying food supplies, was discovered to be missing.

Kagwaini described his brother as a highly experienced and dependable guide with more than 15 years of experience navigating Mt. Kenya’s challenging terrain. He noted that Macharia was in good health and showed no signs of distress or unusual behavior prior to his disappearance.

“I have worked alongside my brother for years, and we still cannot explain what happened. He disappeared while under my watch. I retraced our steps several times and carried out multiple searches, but there was no trace of him,” Kagwaini said.

In a puzzling development, the family later recovered some of Macharia’s personal belongings along the trail, including his National Identity Card, mobile phone, and the food supplies he was carrying. All the items were reportedly found neatly placed on the footpath.

The matter has been reported to both Chogoria and Timau police stations as search efforts continue. The family remains hopeful that Macharia will be found alive and is calling for intensified government-led search and rescue operations on the mountain