A planned swimming excursion for prefects and high-performing students from Karia Secondary School in Kirinyaga County ended in tragedy on Thursday when a Form Three student drowned during the outing.
The deceased, Eric Muconge, was among the 17 students taken to a nearby hotel for the trip by the school.
Central Sub-County Police Commander John Torori confirmed the incident, stating that the drowning occurred around 4 pm. First responders rushed the high school student to a nearby hospital, but their efforts to revive him were unsuccessful.
“I could not believe Eric was no more as I was told the school management took the best performers and prefects to the hotel. Eric was a Form Three prefect,” said the deceased’s mother, Hannah Wanjiru Muconge.
Family members of the deceased have raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the incident.
“We want to know what happened because we were shocked to see the lifeless body of Eric in a local private hospital, although we expected his body at Kerugoya Hospital. We want to know why detectives have been told to meet at Kerugoya Police Station,” said Paul Wanyoike, Muconge’s uncle.
The body of the deceased has been transferred to Kerugoya County Referral Hospital pending a post-mortem examination as investigations into the drowning continue.
“We have launched investigations, and we are telling the family to remain calm. Anybody found guilty will be prosecuted,” assured Torori.
