Two minors drown in Kisumu quarry

Two children have drowned in an abandoned quarry in Kisumu.

Police and eyewitnesses said the pupils aged 15 and 11 years were swimming in the quarry.

It is suspected the older boy, Geofrey Onyango, a Standard Seven pupil at Angira Primary School, was trying to rescue Maxwell Otieno of  Disciples of Mercy Primary school, who was drowning.

Police later took the two bodies to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral hospital mortuary.

Grieving parents and residents protested failure by the Kisumu County government to fence the quarry, saying it had claimed many lives.

A eyewitness, Saji Owido, who is also the deputy head  teacher at Angira Primary school, said a villager raised an alarm after realising the two boys may have drowned.

"The incident has shocked the school fraternity and the villagers (of Mamboleo). The county government should secure this quarry before it takes many innocent lives. We have lost two young lives. Something must be done  abouth this quarry," Mr Owido said.

Owido said it took them about four hours to recover the bodies.