A family has been thrown into mourning after their son who had just reported to school drowned in River Nzoia.

Reports indicate that Steven Ongadi Choko – a Form 2 student at Pwani Secondary school – had left the school to fetch water in the company of other students – when he drowned. 

The school is located in Tongeren Constituency, in Bungoma County.

Kabuyefwe area chief Kennedy Barasa and the Assistant Commissioner Joseph Achumi confirmed the incident.

“The students left the school last evening to go and fetch water. Unfortunately, one of them drowned,” said Tongarem Member of Parliament Mr. John Chikati, who also visited the scene on Sunday.

“The school is almost three kilometers away from the river. I wonder why a teacher was not sent to accompany the children to the river given these are minors,” added Chikati.

The body was retrieved on Sunday afternoon by divers who had been combing through the floor of the river since Saturday evening.

The divers were on Sunday evening given a sheep to slaughter at the scene of the incident, reportedly as the Bukusu traditions demand.

The body has been taken to Lugulu hospital mortuary.