By Erestinah Jane | July 8, 2026
Police have launched investigations following the tragic drowning of a two-and-a-half-year-old girl in a fishpond near her family’s rented home in Nyawara Village, Gem Yala Sub-County, Siaya County.
According to police reports, the toddler disappeared while playing outside on Tuesday afternoon with another child aged two before the pair wandered toward a fishpond located approximately 150 metres from their home.
Describing the circumstances surrounding the incident, police stated:
“The child had been playing outside with another minor aged two before they wandered towards a nearby fishpond. According to police, the other child later returned home but did not inform anyone that the pair had gone to the pond.”
Investigators said the girl’s disappearance initially went unnoticed after her playmate returned home alone without informing adults where the two children had been.
The child’s body was later discovered floating in the fishpond by another minor who had gone to fetch water from a nearby stream. The boy immediately alerted his father, who raised the alarm and called on neighbours for assistance.
Residents rushed to the scene and retrieved the toddler from the water. However, efforts to save her were unsuccessful as she had already died by the time she was recovered.
Police officers from the area responded to the incident, secured the scene and documented the circumstances surrounding the drowning before transferring the body to the local hospital mortuary.
Authorities said a post-mortem examination will be conducted to establish the official cause of death as investigations continue.
The incident has left residents of Nyawara Village in shock, with community members expressing grief over the loss of the young child while calling on parents and guardians to remain vigilant when children are playing outdoors, particularly near water bodies.
Police have urged families living near fishponds, rivers, dams and other open water sources to ensure young children are under constant adult supervision to reduce the risk of similar tragedies.
The drowning adds to a growing number of child-related accidents reported across the country, prompting renewed calls for improved safety measures around fishponds and other potentially hazardous areas within residential communities. Authorities have encouraged property owners to consider protective barriers and other safety precautions to prevent accidental access by young children as investigations into the incident continue.
