Kenya: Search Underway for 11-Year-Old Girl Feared Drowned in River Yala

What the report says

A search is underway in Siaya County, Kenya, after police said an 11-year-old girl was feared drowned in River Yala. The child, identified in the report as Ashley, was a Grade Six pupil at JM Opidah Comprehensive School. The incident was reported in the Kware area of Onding Village, Uranga Sub-location, about five kilometres west of Barkalare Police Post.

According to the account cited by Capital FM and distributed by AllAfrica, the girl had gone to the river with a friend after taking cows to drink water. Police said the two children later went swimming, and the girl was swept away by fast-moving water and did not resurface. Her mother alerted police after she failed to return home.

A search involving police officers, family members and members of the public began soon after the alarm was raised, but it was halted when darkness fell. Authorities said the effort was expected to resume on Monday. The report also notes that officials have continued warning children and other residents to avoid swimming or playing in rivers with strong currents, especially during rainy periods when water levels can rise quickly. The case highlights ongoing safety risks around rivers used by local communities for daily activities such as watering livestock.