Kirinyaga Residents Demand Safety Reforms After 7-Year-Old Boy Drowns in Ng’othi Dam

Residents of Ng’othi village in Mwea, Kirinyaga County, are calling for urgent safety interventions around open dams in rice-growing areas following the tragic death of a seven-year-old boy on Wednesday evening

The child, identified as Emmanuel Macharia, drowned after slipping into a dam located within the Ng’othi rice fields while chasing birds from his family’s farm

According to his father, Francis Munene, the family raised concern when Emmanuel failed to return home at around 6:30 p.m., prompting villagers to launch a search

“We live more than three kilometres from the farm. When I got home and he wasn’t there, I raised the alarm. We suspected he may have fallen into the swamp,” Munene said

On Thursday morning, villagers led by Pastor Mutugi and Josphat Kariuki pumped water from the dam for several hours before retrieving the boy’s body at around 11 a.m

Kariuki described the dam initially dug years ago for tomato farming as a growing hazard due to its depth and location in the middle of rice paddies

“It was extremely risky during the retrieval. This dam has become a death trap,” he said

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The incident has revived long-standing grievances among residents, who say they have repeatedly warned farm owners and county authorities about the dangers posed by open water reservoirs in the area

“We have complained many times, but nothing has been done. These dams must be fenced off to prevent more deaths,” Kariuki added

The family of Emmanuel, a pupil at Kianjogu Primary School, is now mourning the devastating loss

“I can’t believe my son is gone,” his father said tearfully

The body has been moved to the mortuary awaiting a postmortem examination. Meanwhile, residents are urging the county government to take immediate action to prevent future tragedies, especially as the rice harvest season intensifies

Writer : Mweru Mbugua