Tragedy as four primary learners drown in a quarry pit in Kisumu

Tragedy has engulfed the Kanyakwar community in Kisumu Central Sub-County  after four primary school learners and brothers drowned in an abandoned quarry while swimming.

The boys, aged 15, 13, 10 and 8, are said to have dived into the water-filled pit near Kudho Primary School when tragedy struck on Sunday evening.

According to Kondele Location Chief Maurice Ajwang, one of the boys, who had swum to the deeper end of the quarry, began struggling in the water.

His three brothers, who were swimming on the shores, reportedly swung into action to rescue him but were all overwhelmed by the depth of the dam. Police officers, he said, rushed to the scene and quickly mobilised a rescue operation.

The team, which was joined by members of the community, managed to retrieve the four bodies from the quarry, commonly known as Kudho dam. “They were swimming in the quarry when one of them drowned at the deep end.

The others tried to save him but unfortunately, they all drowned,” said the chief. The bodies were moved to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital (JOOTRH) mortuary, where they are awaiting postmortem examinations.

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Kisumu County Commissioner Benson Leparmorijo termed the incident tragic and urged parents and guardians to caution children against swimming in unprotected water bodies, especially abandoned quarries that are often deep and dangerous.

Sunday’s tragedy has once again thrown the spotlight on the numerous open quarries scattered across Kanyakwar and neighbouring areas.

Residents say the water-filled pits, left behind by murram miners, have over the years claimed dozens of lives, particularly those of children, with little effort made to have them filled or secured.

Environmental activist Jack Owino criticised what he described as lax enforcement of environmental regulations, saying the government must move with speed to reclaim the dangerous sites.

“These open pits have become death traps. We have lost dozens of young lives here. The government must ensure they are filled and secured immediately,” said Owino. He added that murram miners must be compelled to adhere to the country’s environmental laws by reclaiming the land upon exiting extraction sites.

By Fredrick Odiero