Nakuru: Grade 2 Pupil Drowns in Raging Waters in Milimani, Body Found Near Senator’s Office

• A Grade 2 pupil in Nakuru was swept away by floodwaters and found dead near the Nakuru senator's office after being caught in a heavy rainstorm
• Severe flooding across Nakuru caused widespread damage, with roads becoming impassable and vehicles trapped by fallen trees
• A sinkhole appeared on Nakuru-Kabarak Road, disrupting traffic, with similar sinkhole incidents previously reported in Kaptembwa and Ngata

TUKO.co.ke journalist Ivan Mboto has over three years of experience reporting on politics and current affairs in Kenya

A Grade 2 pupil was swept away by raging waters near Graceland in Milimani On Wednesday, April 30, before his body was discovered near the Nakuru senator's office.

The heavy rains that began just after 4 pm drenched Nakuru for over an hour and a half, flooding roads across the city and rendering them impassable. Witnesses described the rains as accompanied by strong winds that further worsened the conditions.

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Priscilla Wanjiru Karanja, the mother of the 8-year-old child, shared with TUKO.co.ke a heart-wrenching account of the tragedy.

Her son, a Grade 2 pupil at Lenana Primary School in Nakuru Town East Sub-county, was heading home when he was caught in the fierce downpour.

Nakuru mother faults school for releasing son despite rains

She said the child fell into the floodwaters and was swept away through the drainage system, eventually leading to his tragic death.

Despite fast responses from security officers and medical teams, the child was found dead by the time help arrived.

Karanja expressed her frustration with the school administration, particularly for releasing the children despite clear signs of impending heavy rain.

“They should have kept the children at school until a parent or guardian could pick them up, given the worsening weather conditions,” she told TUKO.co.ke.

Karanja also revealed that her two children usually walk back home from their school in Kirima village, Menengai, braving the long trek every day.

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Elsewhere, the storm caused significant damage along West Road, which intersects with Oginga Odinga Street near D&D House.

A fallen tree crushed several vehicles, including a Nissan matatu belonging to Ngata, pinning them to the ground. Residents had to work together to cut through the tree to rescue the damaged vehicles.

Earlier in the day, a sinkhole appeared near RIVA Petrol Station on the Nakuru-Kabarak Road, further disrupting traffic flow.

Michael Orege, director at KeNHA Corridor D, assured the public that the situation was being monitored, and efforts were underway to restore the road services.

KeNHA urged motorists travelling between Nakuru, Eldoret, and Baringo counties to exercise caution and use the designated diversion routes set up around the affected area.

Nakuru sinkholes menace

Nakuru has experienced recurring calamities linked to heavy rains, which destabilise the ground.

Last year, several sinkholes formed in the Kaptembwa area in Nakuru Town West, displacing hundreds of tenants from their rental homes.

Three sinkholes emerged in the area, exacerbating the damage caused by the shifting fault lines. A similar situation occurred in Ngata, Rongai Sub county, near Sobea Farm, where sinkholes caused massive land loss.

Proofreading by Jackson Otukho, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.

Source: TUKO.co.ke