A somber mood has engulfed Kabete after two Grade Nine pupils drowned in an abandoned quarry on Friday evening, moments after taking part in a tree-planting exercise to mark Mazingira Day.
According to police, a group of learners had gone swimming at the disused quarry shortly after the event when tragedy struck. The victims — a boy and a girl — reportedly jumped into the deep waters unaware of the hidden dangers beneath.
Witnesses say the boy drowned while trying to rescue the girl after she began struggling to stay afloat.
Officers from Kabete Police Station rushed to the scene but were unable to save them in time. The bodies were later moved to the PCEA Kikuyu Hospital mortuary.
Kabete Sub-County Police Commander Kimotho confirmed the incident, saying the pupils had gone swimming without supervision.
Police have since launched investigations into the incident.
Kimotho expressed concern over the growing number of abandoned quarries in the area, warning that they pose serious risks to nearby residents — especially children.
The Sub-County Commander urged quarry operators to refill and secure open pits once mining activities end, saying failure to do so endangers lives
Kimotho further revealed that police and local leaders have begun mapping and rehabilitating abandoned quarries across Kabete Sub-County to prevent similar incidents.
