11-year-old drowns in Kirinyaga swamp while on holiday visit to grandmother

According to Thumaita Location Chief Francis Kiragu Ndiga, the boy had travelled to the area to visit his grandmother during the school holidays when the tragedy occurred.

The chief said the group of boys had been playing football near the swamp and decided to go swimming afterward, leading to the fatal incident.

Chief Kiragu said the boy's body remained in the swamp overnight, as the other boys he had been swimming with fled the scene out of fear rather than alerting locals.

The swamp, according to residents, was formed years ago after murram was excavated from the site by contractors building the Kagio-Baricho road, who had bought the material from locals. Residents led by Fredrick Kabue and Moses Gichira described the swamp as very deep.

The boy's mother, Beth Nyaguthii, travelled from Thika following the tragedy, as relatives wept while his body was retrieved from the water.

Residents said drownings are uncommon among local children, who are familiar with the dangers of the swamp, but tend to affect visitors from outside the area.

"Like in this case, the boy had come to visit his grandmother when the incident happened," Kabue said.

Chief Kiragu announced that fishing and swimming in the swamp will no longer be permitted, urging parents to keep closer watch over their children during the holidays.

"We will not allow fishing or swimming in this swamp. That's why we are urging parents to take care of their children," he said.

Gichira added that the swamp sometimes dries up during dry seasons, with locals occasionally farming on the exposed land.