KIANDAI, Kirinyaga County – A sombre mood has descended on Kiandai Village after two boys drowned in a local dam while swimming and fishing on Thursday evening.
The victims, Victor Mwangi, 15, a Grade 7 pupil, and Ryan Njoroge, 10, in Grade 4, had gone to the dam with a group of friends when the tragedy occurred, according to Mwerua Location Chief John Mwai.
Residents said the children were part of a group of about ten who had gathered at the dam to fish. Two local women, Lilian Wambui and Mercy Kinyua, said they had advised the boys to return home earlier in the day.
“We told them to go back home. Later, when we returned, we were shocked to see divers searching the dam,” Ms Wambui said.
Ryan’s aunt, Faith Murimi, who was at the scene, described the anguish of informing the boy’s mother, who is abroad in Qatar. “I have already informed his mother. She is devastated,” she said, holding his small pair of shoes.
The dam, which was created over ten years ago, was initially fenced off. Locals say the barrier was later vandalised, with the wire sold as scrap metal, raising longstanding safety concerns.
Chief Mwai confirmed that search efforts are ongoing. “We are studying the dam and predicting potential locations of the bodies with the help of divers,” he said. Officers from Baricho Police Station are assisting.
Residents have renewed calls for the dam to be properly secured to prevent further accidents.
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