Machakos: Form 3 Student Drowns While Swimming In Local Dam

• The 16-year-old boy from Kyamulendu Secondary School had gone on a swimming adventure with friends when she drowned
• His father, Dickson Mutunga, said he was informed of his son's drowning, and immediately a retrieval operation was mounted
• The body of the Form Three student was retrieved after 24 hours and taken to Patjud mortuary ahead of an autopsy

Machakos - The body of a 16-year-old boy has been retrieved from the Kwa Savano dam in Sengani area 24 hours after he drowned.

The Form Three student at Kyamulendu Secondary School had gone swimming with friends at the dam when he slipped and drowned.

Matungulu sub-county police boss Peter Omondi said the deceased was in the company of four others when he drowned.

“Five boys went to swim in a dam within Sengani area and on coming out, they realised that one of them was missing. They raised alarm attracting locals who later informed the police. Our officers moved to the scene and together with local divers launched a search on the fifth boy,” Omondi said.

Dickson Mutunga, the victim's father, said they were informed of his drowning and had been conducting the retrieval operation with the help of locals.

"Nikapigiwa simu nikaambiwa ameingia kwa maji. Kukuja tukamtafuta mpaka jioni tukarudi nyumbani. Tukarudi tena siku ya pili," he said.

Peter Nzioka, a witness at the scene, stated that the operation had been hampered by a lack of modern equipment to enhance their search.

What needs to be done by gov't

Thomas Mutiso, a diver who aided the rescue operation, called on the county government to help stop further accidents.

Mutiso maintained that the dam cannot be closed from the public, arguing that it helps many households.

"Tunaomba Machakos county government muangalie vile hii dam inaezafanyiwa kwa sababu haiwezi funikwa. Inasaidia watu wengi sana," he said.

He appealed for the place to be fenced and more divers trained to help in rescue operations whenever residents fall in the dam.

Mother, twins drown in River Yala

Elsewhere, a village in Siaya was thrown into mourning after three family members drowned in River Yala under unclear circumstances.

Everline Otiu, 35, from Mileng’a village and her two children, aged two, went to the river on Friday, February 17, to wash clothes, never to return.

Nation reported that Usire sub-location assistant Chief Austine Bunde said the husband, Samuel Owino, returned home to find them missing.

He was told they had gone to the river, but when he reached the banks, he only found the clothes they were washing.