Kenyan Nursing Student Found Dead in River Cam After Disappearing in Cambridge

Nelbert, a Kenyan nursing student at Anglia Ruskin University, was found dead in the River Cam in Cambridge on the morning of 9 October, after failing to return home following a work shift the previous evening.

The Bachelor of Science in Nursing student had disappeared on 8 October, prompting a search involving police and members of the local community. His death has left his family, friends and fellow Kenyans in the UK mourning as investigators work to establish what happened.

According to his roommate, the two travelled to work together on the morning of 8 October, and Nelbert appeared to be in good spirits throughout the day. After their shift, he was reportedly dropped off near their accommodation at about 9pm, leaving him with only a short walk to the flat.

Concern grew when he failed to arrive home and could not be reached by telephone. Relatives and friends tried to contact him without success. His roommate said a call was later made from Nelbert’s phone that evening, but it went unanswered. The events between his disappearance and the discovery of his body remain unclear.

Members of the Kenyan community in Britain said police initially recovered the body of a Black man from the river before linking the discovery to a missing-person report. Community representatives indicated that DNA analysis was used to confirm his identity, with reports suggesting that a toothbrush was involved in the process. However, these details have not been independently verified.

Authorities have not yet established the cause of death. People familiar with the investigation said there were no immediately visible signs of injury or evidence of a physical confrontation. Police have urged the public to avoid speculation as they await the findings of a post-mortem examination.

Nelbert’s death has caused grief among Kenyans living across the UK, particularly those who knew him through work, university and community networks. The case has also brought renewed focus to the challenges international students face while balancing their studies, employment and daily lives away from their families.

Members of the Kenyan community, including those in the Kalenjin diaspora, have begun organising support for the bereaved family. Their efforts are expected to include providing emotional assistance and raising funds to repatriate Nelbert’s remains to Kenya for burial.

The case recalls the death of Edna Mmbali Ombakho, a Kenyan postgraduate student at York St John University who disappeared after leaving her residence for a walk earlier this year. Weeks later, a body believed to be hers was recovered from the River Thames in Berkshire.