A 13-year-old Grade 9 student is feared dead after drowning in River Yala while washing clothes with friends in Bondo Sub-County, Siaya county.
The pupil at Othach Junior Secondary School reportedly drowned on October 17, at around 3 pm, after slipping and falling into the river.
According to police, the incident was reported by his uncle, who said the teenager had been washing clothes with his friends along the riverbank when the tragedy occurred.
Efforts by family members and local residents to search for and retrieve the boy’s body were ongoing, police said.
The circumstances surrounding the drowning are yet to be fully established, as the search and recovery operation continues.
The incident adds to concerns over the safety of children around rivers, particularly when engaging in activities along riverbanks.
Elsewhere, a 13-year-old Grade 7 pupil was found dead at River Nyakomisaro in Nyabururu Location, Kitutu Central Subcounty, Kisii county, with deep cut wounds to the head and suspected strangulation marks on the neck.
The body of the pupil at St Joseph Nyabururu School was discovered on October 17, prompting a police investigation into suspected murder.
Police officers visited the scene and retrieved the body.
A preliminary examination revealed two deep cut wounds on the head and signs of strangulation on the neck, raising suspicion that the boy may have been killed.
The body was positively identified by his father, who had reported him missing on October 15 after he failed to return home from school.
On October 16, the father reportedly received information from the school that the pupil had attended classes but later left, telling his friends that he was going swimming in the river.
The boy’s clothes and shoes were subsequently found beside the river and handed over to his father.
The discovery of the body has raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the pupil’s disappearance and death.
Police processed the scene before moving the body to Kisii Level 6 Hospital mortuary, where it is awaiting a postmortem examination to establish the cause of death.
Investigations into the suspected murder are ongoing.
Elsewhere, an 18-year-old Grade 9 student died after allegedly being attacked with a club during a family gathering in Likuyani Subcounty, Kakamega county.
The deceased, identified as Slevious Wasike, was reportedly attacked at around 3.39 am on Saturday, October 17, at the homestead of a man who was hosting a gathering to commemorate the anniversary of his late mother.
According to police, the suspected attacker was the host’s son.
The victim sustained serious head injuries after allegedly being struck with a club. He was rushed to Likuyani Sub-County Hospital, where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police officers visited the scene and commenced investigations into the incident.
The suspect reportedly fled immediately after the attack and has yet to be apprehended, according to the report.
The scene was processed by investigators, while the deceased’s body was moved to Likuyani Hospital mortuary pending a postmortem examination.
Police are pursuing the suspect as investigations continue to establish the circumstances surrounding the fatal attack.
