Three minors, aged 14, 13, and 11, tragically drowned while fishing in River Karugoe in Njoro, Nakuru County, on Saturday, March 17, 2025.
The boys, two of whom were grade 8 pupils and one a grade 5 pupil, were close friends who attended Karugoe Primary School.
The tragic incident occurred on Saturday afternoon when their fishing trip turned fatal.
According to reports, the three were caught in the river’s current while fishing, leading to their drowning.
Peter’s father, Christopher Gitau, described the heartbreaking moment when he arrived at the scene.
“When we arrived, my son’s body was the first to be pulled from the river.
I knew he was dead when I saw his body, and then the bodies of the other two were recovered,” he said.
The family of Mike, who was also among the victims, shared their sorrow, with his relative, Joyce Ndirangu, remembering him as a selfless child.
“Mike was a good child, always ready to help others.
He loved helping, and even that day, he tried to save his friends. We don’t even know what to say,” she said.
John’s parents, devastated by the loss of their only child, are still coming to terms with the tragedy.
“I received the news around 3 pm that three children had drowned, and one of them was my nephew.
I rushed to the scene and found the police removing two bodies. It was confirmed that he was gone,” said John Waithanja, a relative of the family.
Local leaders, who offered condolences to the families, have urged parents to be more cautious and ensure their children do not visit dangerous places without supervision.
Lare MCA Philip Wanjohi emphasized the importance of adult supervision, especially when children go fishing.
“Parents should not let their children go fishing alone.
They need to be accompanied by an adult or someone who knows the area well.
We don’t want this kind of tragedy to happen again,” Wanjohi said.
Muthiga Assistant Police Commander Moses Muniu warned the community about the dangers of the river, noting that blocking the stream was not an option since it leads to the Nakuru National Park.
“I urge the locals to exercise caution, as this river has proven to be hazardous,” Muniu said.
The bodies of the three boys were taken to the Egerton University mortuary, where a postmortem will be conducted.
