Two pupils swept by raging water as they clean shoes in Kangemi, Nairobi

Two children drowned after being swept by a river as they cleaned their shoes in Kangemi. (Photo: Courtesy)

Nairobi, Kenya: Two children drowned after being swept by a river as they cleaned their shoes in Kangemi slums, Nairobi.

Peninah Ismael, 13 and Mercy Wambua, 12 who were pupils at Kanyarosha Self Help Primary School and in classes seven and six respectively were swept away by water as they cleaned their shoes before they could head to the institution Thursday morning.

Police and the director of the school James Mutesi said the two were headed to the school yesterday morning when the incident happened.

“Unfortunately, the children slipped into the river and were swept by the raging water,” said Mutesi.

The children were among a group that had walked from their homes through the mud headed for the school when they stopped to clean the shoes.

After the incident, those who witnessed it raised alarm calling for help. A group of locals were joined by teachers in efforts to save them in vain. Only the body of Peninah has been recovered by the time of going to press as more armature divers dived into the Nairobi River in efforts to recover the body.

Dagorretti OCPD Rashid Mohamed said they had not recovered the body of Mercy.

“Efforts are being made to retrieve it assuming it has not been swept down stream and far away,” he said.

A crowd gathered at the scene and watched as the divers delved into the water. The water in the river had swollen following heavy downpour that was experienced in Nairobi.

The body of Peninah was later moved to the mortuary. Mohamed asked for caution among parents and children in efforts to address such accidents.