Sharon Cheptoo: Kericho Women Rep aspirant makes daring dive to retrieve body
By Valerian Khakayi, September 23, 2026Kericho Women Representative aspirant Sharon Cheptoo has caught the attention of social media users after an undated video showing her joining a body recovery operation in River Cheptinding went viral.
The video, seen by K24 Digital on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, shows Cheptoo joining residents and responders during the recovery operation in Kapsoit Ward, Kericho County.
In the footage, the politician is seen removing her shoes and socks before wading into River Cheptinding alongside a member of the recovery team.
A crowd can be seen gathered along the muddy riverbank as the recovery operation gets underway, with Cheptoo moving through the water alongside those involved in the effort to retrieve the body of an unidentified person.
Her decision to physically join the recovery effort has caught the attention of social media users, particularly because such challenging body-retrieval operations are often carried out by male responders or members of the community.
Cheptoo’s intervention draws attention
The video has particularly drawn attention because of the unusual nature of Cheptoo’s intervention, with the aspirant seen physically joining residents and responders instead of observing the recovery operation from the riverbank.
Her actions have since sparked debate over the role of politicians and aspiring leaders in community emergencies. While some critics have questioned whether her involvement could have been partly motivated by publicity, especially as politicians position themselves ahead of future elections, her supporters have defended her actions as a show of community spirit.
Cheptoo’s political ambitions have added another layer to the discussion as she seeks to represent women in Kericho County.
As the undated video continues to circulate online, reactions remain divided between those who see her intervention as an example of community involvement and those who believe potentially dangerous body-recovery operations should be handled by trained responders
Retrieved body
The recovery operation took place in Kapsoit Ward, where residents and responders came together after the discovery of the unidentified body in River Cheptinding.
The identity of the deceased and circumstances surrounding the death had not been established at the time of reporting.
Meanwhile, the undated footage continues to circulate on social media, bringing renewed attention to Cheptoo and her involvement in the recovery effort.
The Kericho Women Representative aspirant has consequently found herself at the centre of a wider online conversation about public service, personal safety and the visibility of political aspirants during community emergencies.