Children at a water dam
Police are probing an incident where two children reportedly died while swimming in a water dam in Yatta, Machakos County.
Machakos County police boss Joseph Ole Napeiyan said the incident was reported at Matuu police station as a drowning report.
“It was reported by a resident of Kionweni village that today at around midday, she received information that two children who had gone swimming mid-morning hours are believed to have drowned in a dam within the village,” Napeiyan said.
The two are said to be aged 12. “The scene was visited by Deputy OCS Matuu and DCI Yatta personnel where the two children were confirmed dead, both 12 years old pupils from Kionyweni primary school having been retrieved by members of the public.”
He said the officers processed the scene and removed the bodies to Mbaku mortuary awaiting postmortem.
Area assistant chief Michael Mwinzi said the children reportedly sneaked from their parent’s homes to go and swim inside the underground tank.
Mwinzi called on parents from the region to be watchful of their children so as to avoid the recurrence of such tragedies.
“I’m issuing a warning to parents, let’s be watchful of our children, especially during this school holiday season. Those who have drilled boreholes among other water reservoirs, let’s secure them through fencing to avoid such incidences,” Mwinzi said.
