At least three people drowned in a river after a canoe they were using to cross it capsized in the Holo area, Kisumu County.
Police said the incident happened on Saturday, February 15 as a group was using a canoe to cross the Mugruk River.
Police in the area were alerted of the incident and they rushed to the scene.
It was later established that four people were crossing
the river using a canoe and on reaching the middle of the river, strong winds
were experienced and the canoe capsized.
The deceased were identified as Dolphine Adhiambo Omondi,
34, Nicholas Ochieng Miruka, 37 and Eldah Awino Otieno, 29.
One woman survived after she managed to swim to the shores
of the river, police said.
She narrated the ordeal to the responders.
The bodies of the deceased were retrieved and moved to
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital mortuary awaiting
postmortem.
Nyanza regional police commander Patrick Tito said they
are investigating the tragedy.
Cases of drowning have been on the rise in rivers in the
region. Police say they receive up to two cases weekly, which is alarming.
Meanwhile, two people including a nine-year-old boy died
by suicide in separate cases reported to police.
The first incident was reported in the Makongeni area, Thika,
Kiambu County.
The incident involved a nine-year-old boy whose body was found
hanging in a wardrobe in his parents’ bedroom.
The motive of the incident is yet to be established,
police said.
The body was moved to General Kago Funeral home awaiting
postmortem.
In Shauri Moyo, Nairobi, one Silvya Aoko Ekeya, 47 died
after she swallowed poison.
The deceased is said to have quarrelled with her children
before she retreated to her bedroom and swallowed pesticide.
After the incident, she sought help and was rushed to
the hospital where she died on arrival.
She complained of stomach pain and confessed she had
swallowed the pesticide.
The body was moved to Chiromo mortuary pending postmortem.
Cases of suicide have been on the rise amid calls on authorities to take action to address the trend.
