Uasin Gishu County Assembly has called for a county-wide inspection of all recreational facilities to ascertain their safety standards.
This follows a recent tragic incident where five Arap Moi Primary School Kenya Certificate of Primary Education, KCPE candidates drowned during a boat expedition at a manmade dam in a private park in Ainabkoi Sub-County.
In a motion tabled by Patrick Kimaiyo, Member of County Assembly Mois Bridge Ward, the MCAs expressing concern over safety standards in recreational facilities, the County Assembly directed the County government through the Department of Youth Affairs, Sports, ICT and Innovation to immediately initiate thorough inspection of the recreation facilities to mitigate an occurrence of such tragedies in the future.
The tragic incident occurred on October 28th, 2023, a few days before the deceased candidates were to sit for their KCPE national examinations alongside their colleagues.
The 183 grade six and class eight pupils had been taken by the school administration for a team building excursion at an amazement park when the five pupils, who have since been buried, met their deaths.
The Assembly has directed the Department to conduct a thorough inspection of all recreational facilities in the County, including swimming pools, playgrounds, and amusement parks. The inspection should focus on identifying any safety hazards that could pose a risk to children and mitigation measures in place.
The Department has also been directed to develop and implement a plan to mitigate any safety hazards that are identified. This plan should include measures such as increased supervision, improved signage, regular maintenance, and ensuring the presence of lifeguards in swimming places and life jackets during boat rides.
The Assembly has called on all recreational facility operators to cooperate with the Department during the inspection process. The Assembly has also urged parents to be vigilant when taking their children to recreational facilities.
Inspection of recreational facilities is essential to ensuring the safety of children and other members of the public, and this intervention by the assembly is aimed at ensuring the prevention of such tragedies in the future, the motion mover stated.
By Kiptanui Cherono
