Two students from Michuki Technical Institute in Kangema, Murang’a County drowned in river Mathioya where they had gone for a photoshoot Sunday evening.
Identified as Hellen and Dan, the two had reportedly gone for a leisure walk along the river which is close to a waterfall with the intention of capturing photos of themselves.
However, their happy moment was cut short after the girl slipped into the river prompting her friend to try to save her. Dan then fell in the river and they both drowned.
Efforts by residents to save the two were futile after darkness settled in the area.
On Monday morning, the students of Michuki Technical Institute and residents of the area camped by the banks of the river waiting for the bodies to resurface.
Paul Kalawa, one of the students at the institute said he spent the whole of Sunday afternoon in the company of the two before they left for a leisure walk by the river.
“We didn’t know that things would turn out this tragic but I urge my colleagues to be careful and avoid this place,” Kalawa said.
John Ndirangu the college principal said the incident has dealt a big blow to the institution pointing out another incident where a student drowned at the same spot two years ago.
“It was an accident like any other because people always go there for photoshoots, only that the two became victims,” he said.
“I would urge the students to keep off this place for now because we would not like to lose more lives in such a manner,” Ndirangu added.
Before K24 Digital filed this story, the bodies of the two were yet to be retrieved with Kangema OCPD John Wambugu stating that divers are doing their best to trace the bodies.
The incident comes barely a week after three pupils from Mabae Primary School in Gatanga drowned in Kiama river.