Agreed. Some simple staircase on the sides or elevated platforms would have saved lives. The gava should close down Hell's Gate until the idiots at KWS come up with firm safety measures for visitors. While at it, I commend what the County Government of Laikipia has done at Thompson's Falls. All landings are well barricaded with steel grills and the staircase to the bottom of the Falls is well done complete with guard rails and it's made the bottom accessible even by children. Thumbs up.

It's also possible to have an alarm system complete with sirens along the paths. Once water gets to the entrance, the sirens should go off and those inside the gorges can then climb up the safety platforms and stay there until water subsides. Simple inexpensive measures. Lakini ngombe tunazo ni kuitisha bundles za nyasi tuu

Sad for the families of those who died and no disrespect for them but I have a different take. My take is that the only thing needed is a sign at the gate of Hells gate that reads:

This place experiences flash floods. It is possible that by walking in here you are likely to Die in case of a flash flood. If you die, shauri yako. You have been warned.

Tosha. That is it. No need to do anything else. It is not the work of any citizen to subsidize extreme dangerous excursions for anybody. If you want the thrill then assume the risks too. I felt angry hearing that mhindi trying to blame KWS and the guides for what happened, ati the guides told him there is no problem when it started drizzling. You wanted thrills and pictures to show on Instagram so you went to hells kitchen....the devil himself came and swept your loved ones. Pole sana but don't put that on anyone but yourself.

The gorge is a natural phenomenon. If you choose to go into the gorge, there are natural risks like the flash floods, steam burns, animal bites, slipping and falling. Let us not blame KWS for forces of nature.

Another issue is that the so called guides are not professional KWS guides. They are locals who negotiated with GOK to be allowed to take tourists down the gorge and make some money.

The last time I was in the gorge, some sections had been closed off due to the risk of flash floods. I was made aware of the risk and decided to only tour the first leg which does not carry risk of flooding.

I agree 100%. The gorge should be left in its natural form and its upto the visitors to weigh the risks of getting in there. The peculiar thing about the flash floods there is that the rains fall in areas many kms away and then the water travels downstream and into the gorge. So it could be hot and dry in the gorge and surrounding area and then all of a sudden a 10ft high wall of water suddenly appears and sweeps everyone away.

Regarding the guides these are the local olkaria maasai who were born and raised in the area and no one knows that gorge better than them. KWS allowed them to be the guides as part of empowering the local community ie part of corporate social responsibility.