By John Mugendi
Search for the body of a Form One boy from Ngoko village in Magumoni ward, Tharaka Nithi County who drowned in River Ruguti entered the fourth day today.
According to the eye witnesses, Enos Mutethia from Mutuguni Secondary School was swimming when he accidentally slipped into Ngoko waterfalls, about 30-metres long.
A team of divers from the Kenya National Disaster Operation Centre and those from the Tharaka Nithi County Rescue Team is searching for the body at the scene and downstream.
Speaking to journalists at the scene, Tharaka Nithi County Commissioner Ms Beverly Opwora said they were hopeful that the professional divers from Nairobi would help recover the body for burial.
“We have a sad Mashujaa Day as Ngoko village residents because of losing our son who drowned while swimming,” said Ms Opwora.
Tharaka Nithi County Police Commander Charles Mbatu cautioned parents in the area against letting their children swim at the risky waterfall.
He said several children had drowned at the dangerous waterfall while swimming.
“This place is very dangerous especially during the rainy season and that is why we are warning parents against allowing their children to swim here,” said Mr Mbatu.
Magumoni MCA Justin Kithinji urged the locals to cooperate with the divers in looking for the body and expressed confidence that with the help of the experts, it will be recovered.
He lauded Ms Opwora for physically leading the search exercise together with the county police boss and other county heads of security.
“Our county rescue team has done commendable work and with the help of the experts from Nairobi, we hope the body will be recovered,” said Mr Kithinji.
