A Grade 7 pupil at Rwang'ondu Primary School in Kirinyaga County died on Monday after drowning at a local swimming pool located at a hotel where he and his family were celebrating New Year festivities.
Reports indicate that the family had been staying at a local hotel in Kagio Town within Kirinyaga County where they were planning to celebrate and usher in the new year.
However, as fate would have it, the 13-year old decided to take a late-night swim - which later turned fatal.
Speaking to journalists after the incident, the boy's mother narrated the events of the fateful night revealing that the boy left the room when she was breastfeeding her three-year-old baby.
While narrating what happened, the mum stated that she began to get worried after the boy did not return to the room, leading her to report the matter to the hotel management. It was at this point that the search began.
Moments after, the search party discovered the boy's lifeless body floating in the swimming pool.
"We arrived here at around 3:00 pm with my children to celebrate the New Year and after paying the swimming pool fee, I did not know I would go home without my 13-year-old boy who was very happy within this premises" she stated.
"(Hours later) I could not spot him as I was breastfeeding my baby, and that's when I informed his father and the hotel staff that he was missing."
Following the incident, officers attached to Kiamaciri Police Station arrived at the scene and secured the area.
Mwea West sub-county Police Commander Mbatian Kantai, who led the operation, informed the press that the body was retrieved at around 11:00 pm inside the pool.
He added that the body was transferred to Kerugoya County Referral Hospital Mortuary awaiting a post-mortem.
The incident has raised questions, with Kenyans expressing concerns online.
Questions have been raised regarding the lack of a swimming lifeguard on duty at the time of the incident. Criticism was also directed at the hotel, suggesting negligence.
Others pointed out the need for restricted pool access, particularly for unaccompanied children, stressing the importance of ensuring a safe environment.
