Seven-year-old boy killed by crocodile while bathing in River Turkwel

A seven-year-old boy was killed by a crocodile while bathing on the banks of the River Turkwel in West Pokot County.

The boy, identified as Lingan Lotugh Isaiah, was attacked on Tuesday evening while bathing with other children near the crocodile-infested river in the Kesot sub-location.

According to eyewitnesses, the crocodile struck moments after the boy removed his clothes and entered the water, dragging him into the deep waters as the other children screamed in terror.

“We tried to chase the crocodile, but it disappeared with the boy,” said Dickson Parayi, the area chief of Kaptoyo.

He added: “This is not the first time. Crocodiles have attacked our children, and we have even lost livestock.”

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A joint search operation involving local villagers, the area chief, and officers from the Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS) was immediately launched.

The boy’s badly mutilated body was recovered Wednesday morning, with his left leg missing.

“We carried out the search with the community and the area chief. The body was eventually found and is now being moved to Kapenguria County Referral Hospital for a post-mortem,” said Wilson Ngoriareng, KWS County Warden.

Ngoriareng described the scene as harrowing, emphasising that the child was unaware of the river's dangerous zones.

“The boy’s leg was cut off, and his body is badly mauled,” he said. “As KWS, we are working on conservation education to reduce human-wildlife conflict. We urge parents and children to be extremely cautious around such rivers.”

The deceased's father, Lolingacholia Akwangan, stated that he was at the gold pits in Kambi Karaya when he received the devastating news.

“I wasn’t there to protect him. My heart is broken,” he expressed, overwhelmed with grief.

His mother, Chepokugho Longan, was inconsolable at the scene.

The family lives in the Kesot sub-location, a community heavily reliant on the river for domestic use due to the lack of piped water.

The boy was a Grade One pupil at Tipet Primary School. The school headteacher, Johnstone Lochiwo, confirmed that he had not reported to school that day.

"He was with a group of pupils when the incident happened. It’s so devastating to lose such a young soul,” Lochiwo said. “He was full of life and always cheerful.”

Residents are now calling on the government and wildlife authorities to take swift action before another life is lost.

The River Turkwel has long been known for its crocodile population, which poses a threat to both people and livestock. Locals often have no choice but to use the dangerous river due to the lack of safe, accessible water sources.

As the community mourns, calls for increased surveillance, fencing, and education programmes are growing louder, with many hoping that this tragedy will not be repeated.