Shock as four students drown during River Athi field trip
River Athi as seen from Kabaa in Yatta Constituency, Machakos County. PHOTO | STEPHEN MUTHINI |NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
The learners of Syokisinga Mixed Secondary School died during an agriculture field study that they undertook with their teacher.
The body of a girl was found earlier.
Yatta sub-county Director of Education, Stephen Kitungu, said the recovery mission was called off when darkness fell.
Efforts are underway to recover the bodies of students who drowned in Athi River, Machaoks County, on Friday.
The form one learners of Syokisinga Mixed Secondary School died during an agriculture field study that they undertook with their teacher, who is also the deputy principal.
ACCIDENT
A total of four students downed during the trip.
"The students were walking along the river when the four started playing and unfortunately fell deep into it and drowned," school principal Nicholus Nthenge said.
"The teacher was in charge of the students."
The body of a girl was found yesterday but the mission was called off when darkness fell, said Yatta sub-county Director of Education Stephen Kitungu.
County Director of Emergency and Rescue Services, David Mwongela, confirmed that recovery efforts resumed on Saturday morning.
Later on Saturday, area OCPD Erick Ng’etich said another body had been found.
INVESTIGATIONS
Mr Ng’etich said the deputy head teacher reported the incident at about 2pm yesterday.
‘’We received reports that the students were swept away while swimming. We have launched investigations to establish what exactly happened," he said.
He added that villagers and officers were camped at the scene.
Mr Ng’etich urged teachers to monitor their students' movements to prevent such incidents.
He said the bodies were taken to Machakos Level Five Referral Hospital Mortuary.
APPEALS
Politicians including former Yatta MP Francis Mwangangi sent condolence messages to the school and the victims' families.
Mr Mwangangi called for thorough investigations into the events that preceded the incident.
"It is not bad to take students out for learning but those entrusted with their care should ensure their safety at all times," he said.
Mr Mwangangi asked the national government and organisations such as the Kenya Red Cross Society to help with the retrieval of the bodies
Mr Musembi Katuku, the Machakos Executive Secretary of the Kenya Union of Post Primary Education Teachers (Kuppet), said they were "shocked" when they were informed of the tragedy.
"It is unfortunate that we have lost young and tender souls at this time of the year. On behalf of Kuppet Machakos County, I convey condolences to the families, the school and friends," said Mr Katuku.
