Residents of Kisasi village in Hamisi Sub County are grieving after a section of wet land caved in killing a seven year old boy on Friday.
Kisasi sub location Assistant Chief Mrs. Matildah Ambasi confirmed to Kenya News Agency (KNA) the tragic incident which occurred in the afternoon.
According to eye witnesses and family sources, the deceased was in company of siblings, including their grandmother, who had gone to scoop clay soil for decorating their mud walled houses ahead of approaching Christmas festivities.
“Preliminary reports indicate the boy refused to accompany the rest home but instead remained behind at the scene where he continued to dig more soil,” said Ambasi.
According to the assistant chief, it was the deceased’s siblings who raised the alarm after they stumbled upon the brother’s body, which was already three quarters submerged in soil at the very spot they had scooped out soil.
“Efforts to save the boys life were futile as he passed on while being rescued by villagers who had rushed to the scene,” reported Ambasi.
The deceased was a standard one pupil at Shipala primary school.
His body was removed to Vihiga County Referral Hospital mortuary in Mbale town.
The local administrator has appealed to residents to avoid any human activity near wetlands to avoid similar tragedies from occurring in future.
“We are urging parents to be extra vigilant and desist from sending children to dig soils around wetlands,” she warned.
By Maurice Aluda
