Form Four student drowns in Lake Victoria while on trip in Homa Bay

A Form Four student drowned in Lake Victoria after being overpowered by strong waves during a sightseeing trip following a county music festival in Mbita.

The victim, identified as 19-year-old Levis Ouma, a student at Nyalenda Mixed High School in Kasipul Division, had travelled to Mbita Boys High School to participate in the Homa Bay County Music Festival.

After their performance, the students, accompanied by their teachers, visited the Mbita-Rusinga causeway for sightseeing.

Police said some of the boys proceeded to a public bathing area, where they removed their clothes and began swimming. During the activity, Levis was overwhelmed by raging waves and drowned.

Officers who responded to the scene found no visible physical injuries on the student’s body. The scene was processed, and the body was transferred to Mbita Sub-County Hospital mortuary for preservation pending a post-mortem examination.

Police have documented the incident, which has been classified as a drowning. Such incidents have been on the rise in the area amid calls for caution to address the trend.

And a 37-year-old man was found dead inside his house in Syokimau, Machakos County, after reportedly complaining of feeling unusually cold for two days.

The deceased, identified as Brian Onyango, had been living with his uncle, George Isaboke, at Jambushi area in Syokimau. According to the report made to police, Brian had complained of coldness since Friday.

On Sunday at about 3.30 p.m., a caretaker entered the house and found Brian unresponsive on his bed. He alerted family members, who reported the incident to National Police Service officers from Syokimau Police Station.

Police officers led by the Officer Commanding Crime visited the scene, documented the incident and found the body lying in the bedroom. No immediate cause of death was established.

The body was moved to Shalom Hospital mortuary, where it will be preserved pending a post-mortem examination to determine the cause of death.

Meanwhile, 14 people died in separate road accidents on Sunday night. Police said the victims included four pedestrians, four pillion passengers, two riders and two passengers. The accidents also left 29 people with serious injuries and they included 10 riders, eight passengers and four pedestrians.

The accidents are under investigations, police said on Monday.