NYAMIRA, Kenya — A village in Nyamira County has been plunged into mourning after a 13-year-old Grade 6 pupil tragically drowned while swimming in River Sondu on Wednesday afternoon.
The deceased was a student at the nearby Enchoro Methodist Primary School, according to local police reports.
The fatal incident occurred at Riasiko village, located within the Matongo sub-location. Authorities stated that the young boy had gone to the river to swim in the company of a 23-year-old man when he was overwhelmed by the waters and went under.
Body Recovered from River Sondu
Alerted by the incident, local residents and police officers rushed to the scene. Following a search operation, the boy’s body was successfully retrieved from the river.
Police officers thoroughly processed and documented the scene of the tragedy. The body of the deceased pupil has since been moved to the Bethlehem Morgue in Sondu, where it is being preserved awaiting a post-mortem examination.
Police Launch Investigation into Drowning Incident
Local authorities have launched an investigation into the exact circumstances surrounding the drowning. Police are expected to question witnesses, including the 23-year-old man who accompanied the minor to the river, to establish how the tragic event unfolded.
Safety experts and local administrators have frequently warned residents against swimming in swollen rivers or unregulated water bodies, especially during unpredictable weather patterns that alter river currents rapidly.
