Two male pupils of Nyatuoni Primary School died on Thursday, March 11, while on a Competency Based Curriculum (CBC) trip at the Riamusa Waterfalls in Etago sub-county, Kisii County.
Reports indicate that the two pupils drowned in River Riasota which flows out of Riamusa Waterfalls. They were aged 13 and 15 years.
Etago OCPD, Joel Chesire, said that the two drowned after slipping into the river while touring the Riamusa Waterfalls.
“We have launched investigations to establish circumstances leading to the accident,” the OCPD said.
The two bodies were retrieved by the police and taken to Kisii County Teaching and Referral Hospital morgue.
Accidents involving school children drowning have been witnessed in Kenya in the past years. Seven pupils from St Martin Primary School perished in August 2015 after they were swept by swift tidal waves in Diani, Kwale County.
According to reports, the students were swept into the sea when the tides suddenly rose and became rough overwhelming the young swimmers.
After the accident, the beach management lamented that it lacked capacity and expertise to protect swimmers.
Due to these type of accidents happening during school trips, the Ministry of Education has been asked to craft policies that will help to avert deaths and injuries.
Some of the policies proposed include spelling out the purpose of a trip, the mode of transport and qualifications of the children’s handler.
