An 11-year-old girl died after she drowned in river Ewaso Nyiro at Ololunga area, Narok South Sub- County while fetching water.
The Narok County Police Commander, Kizito Mutoro, said the grade four girl at Toyoimoi Primary School in Nakuru County had come to visit her grandmother when she met her death.
He said the young girl had been sent by her grandmother to fetch water at the river when she accidentally slipped and drowned in the flooded river.
“We condole with the family of the deceased as we warn residents to be careful when sending young children to risky areas alone. It is unfortunate that the little girl had to die because of a mistake that could be avoided if she was accompanied by an adult,” said the Police Boss.
The body of the deceased was taken to Narok County Referral Hospital Mortuary for preservation, awaiting postmortem.
Yesterday’s incident comes only a day after another juvenile aged 12 years old drowned at a dam in Olkinyei area, Narok West Sub- County.
The deceased had gone to swim in the dam in the company of his younger brothers aged nine and eight years old when the incident occurred.
Commander Mutoro said that the younger boys, when they realized that their brother had drowned rushed home to inform their father who mobilized the members of the public to assist in retrieving the body.
The body was retrieved and moved to Longisa Hospital Mortuary for preservation.
Following the incidents, Police have asked parents to be cautious of their children’s movements and especially when playing near water bodies to avoid reoccurrence of such incidents.
He also asked residents to be cautious when crossing swollen rivers, advising residents to use alternative routes to avoid calamities.
By Ann Salaton
