12-year-old boy drowns inside swimming pool in Kirinyaga

The boy had been preparing for his baptism at St. Joseph Allamano Wang’uru Catholic Church, which was set for Saturday.

According to police, the incident happened in a children’s pool. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital but was pronounced dead on arrival.

Detectives from Wang’uru Police Station have launched investigations into the circumstances surrounding the tragedy. Officers said they will review CCTV footage from the facility and record statements from all individuals who were present at the time.

Residents, including Eunice Lucy Kendi and Zakayo Murage, said the boy’s mother, Rose Kagendo, works at a private hospital in Mutithi, about five kilometres from Ngurubani.

Kagendo had reportedly taken her son to church earlier that morning for final baptism preparations before leaving for work. She was later called to the scene at around 2 p.m., where she found her only child unresponsive.

“I will not see my son again,” she said, overcome with grief.

Police say investigations are ongoing as they seek to establish how the drowning occurred.