A dark cloud hangs over Kamito village in West Pokot County following the death of two minors who lost their lives during a botched swimming expedition.
Isaac Ruto and Elias Rotich, both aged ten years and grade three pupils at Kodongou Primary school, met their deaths while swimming at river Kwilitei on Wednesday evening.
According to Isaac Ruto’s grandmother Jane Opata, her grandchild had arrived from school, changed his uniform, and took lunch before going out to play with his peers.
Opata would later receive the shocking news that her grandson had drowned.
Efforts to resuscitate the two children at the Kapenguria County Referral Hospital were unsuccessful as they were pronounced dead.
She appealed to both the County and National governments to assist area residents by drilling boreholes saying the current drought and above normal temperatures has forced children to go to the river to swim and might result in further accidents.
Lilian Lokwapang, a neighbour and a resident appealed to both County and National governments to make access to safe drinking water possible adding that river Kwillitei has claimed the lives of four children over the years.
The bodies of the two young boys, who were close friends, were transferred to Kapenguria referral Hospital Mortuary.
