Pupils drown

Grief engulfed Samitsi village in Malava Sub County after two children drowned in swollen river Sivilie over the weekend.

The two,Harom Juma, 11 and Watumbukha Murambi, 13 who are brothers had gone to collect firewood when death beckoned.

The deceased were standard six and eight pupils at Sambuli primary school respectively.

An eye witness Lenah Imbogo, who was at a crowded scene that came to witness the catastrophe said the boys had taken a break to swim when strong currents overcame and swept them to their demise.

“It rained heavily on Saturday and the river was swollen as the weather was windy. I believe the two boys could have been overcome by the winds and currents which kept pushing them back as they struggled to save their lives,” Imbogo said.

A village elder told residents to be on the lookout especially that schools have closed so as to prevent further unnecessary loss of lives for children.

 “I pledge with parents to keep track of movement of their children because we have rivers whose bridges have been swept away by swollen rivers, this poses danger,” he stated.

Confirming the incident Samitsi Chief Zachariah Shiyungu, said he received the news on Saturday evening and reported to police.

A villager who had gone to bath at the river saw two bodies of children had drowned and he informed the area chief.

“Parents living close to water bodies should ensure a close eye to their kids to avoid tragic incidences as witnessed. Children should also desist from swimming in rivers and dams as a past time during this holidays” Shiyungu advised

 With government ban on holiday tuition parents have a daunting task to see over their kids.

The bodies were retrieved by villagers who sported them floating and taken to the Kakamega County General Hospital mortuary.