Tragedy struck Kisumu Central sub-county after four brothers, aged 15, 13, 10, and eight, drowned in an open quarry in Kanyakwar while bathing, leaving their father, Felix Otieno, devastated.
Otieno stated that before leaving his compound on Monday, he had warned the boys to fetch water from a borehole or a tap at his mother’s home and take a shower but not in the quarry.
The children normally did not bathe in the quarry.
He told reporters that he was surprised to learn they had gone to the quarry.
Hours later, Otieno received a call from his father informing him that the boys had entered the water-filled quarry.
One child reportedly went into a deeper section and began to drown, prompting the other brothers to jump in to try to save him, but all four tragically drowned.
Otieno recounted that he rushed home immediately after the call. He said his father had told him to come quickly because some children had drowned.
Upon reaching the quarry, one body had already been retrieved by his brother, while the others were recovered soon after.
Otieno said he was on his knees praying at the scene.
The grieving father, now left with a two-and-a-half-year-old daughter, has appealed to Kenyans for financial support to bury his sons.
He also noted that at least five people, including children, had died at the same quarry before, but authorities had not taken steps to secure the site.
The bodies were transported to Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary as the family makes burial arrangements.
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