By John Majau
Tharaka Member of Parliament (MP) Gitonga Murugara has called on area parents to ensure that their children do not go to rivers without their supervision or of other adults.
This is after three girls drowned recently in Kathita River, Tharaka-Nithi county bringing to eight the number of primary school pupils who have drowned in Tharaka constituency in the last three weeks.
Confirming the 6 pm incident, Nkondi Location Chief David Kithaka said the three girls left their homes in the company of their mothers. However, as their mothers stopped to speak to their friends who were coming from church, the girls rushed to the river when tragedy struck.
“When the women arrived at the river and could not find their daughters, they mounted a search only to find the girls’ shoes by the river bank,” he said.
Mr. Kithaka said two of the girls were in Grade Six at Kiorimba Primary school while one was in Grade Three at Rwatha Primary school.
The Chief said the women then called for help from the residents. Local divers retrieved the minors’ bodies and took them to Marimanti Level Four Hospital mortuary.
Last Sunday, two 13-year-old girls in Class Seven and Class Six drowned in Kithino River in the same constituency.
Three weeks ago, three children aged 13, 12 and 10 from Gakuyu Primary school in Kirukuma sub location in the same constituency also drowned in Kathita River.
The pupils had travelled for several kilometres to Gituma sub location to look for water to wash their school uniforms.
The residents are now urging religious leaders to pray for the community.
