Kirinyaga: Search Continues for Missing 9-Year-Old Boy Who Drowned in Sagana River
The sad incident cast gloom over the serene village, with most inhabitants mourning the death of a life that was too short.
Inhabitants of the neighborhood have since joined police officers and divers in the exercise of searching and recovering. Photo/ Courtesy
By Juliet Jerotich
Residents of Rurii Village in Ndia, Kirinyaga County, are left stunned by the gruesome drowning of a nine-year-old boy in the Sagana River on Saturday. The body of the child, in spite of continuous efforts, has yet to be recovered, and his family and community are in tatters.
The boy was with a friend, according to eyewitnesses, when he passed away at about midday. The two were reportedly swimming and fishing near the river, unaware of the hazard that lay ahead. The survivor described that they were drifting on a banana trunk when they noticed a fishing net bobbing in the water and attempted to grab it. Unfortunately, while attempting to seize the net, his friend lost his footing and was swept away by the strong current.
After we succumbed to their urgency and ran to the scene, the surviving lad informed us that they were on a banana stem when they saw a net in the water and tried to pull it out. Regrettably, his companion lost balance and was washed away,” explained nearby resident Mbuthia Mungai. Following quotes denote quote marks.
The tearful mother of the boy, Nancy Nditi, said the family had been camping at the riverbank since Saturday, hoping her son’s body would be found. “It hurts more than words can say. I have not yet accepted that my son, Joseph, is dead. All I hope now is to retrieve his body so that we can bury him,” she cried.
Inhabitants of the neighborhood have since joined police officers and divers in the exercise of searching and recovering. Yet, hours of combing the river have not turned up anything to date. The divers were reported to battle with poor visibility and strong water currents, further complicating their work.
Local authorities have sent their sympathies to the grieving family and called on parents to advise their children against swimming or playing in rivers, especially during rainy times when water levels are high. They also called for authorities to raise awareness about safety within the area to prevent such incidents from happening.
By Sunday evening, the search operation was still in progress, with the police vowing that they will continue until the missing boy is found. The sad incident cast gloom over the serene village, with most inhabitants mourning the death of a life that was too short.
The tragedy is a harsh reminder of the dangers associated with rivers, particularly for children who tend to understate the force of water currents whenever they swim or play.
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