Bodies of Two Missing Girls Retrieved from Abandoned Quarry in Oloolua Ward
The bodies of two missing Grade 8 girls from Oloolua Primary School have been recovered from an abandoned quarry lake in Oloolua Ward, Kajiado North Constituency. The tragic incident occurred after the girls went missing on Sunday, January 19. One body was retrieved yesterday, while the second was recovered today.
Preliminary investigations suggest that the girls drowned while attempting to rescue each other after falling into the water.
Oloolua Location Senior Chief, Moses Ole Mpesha, confirmed that the disappearance was reported to his office and later escalated to the police, prompting a search operation.
“The search led us to the quarry where the bodies were found. We received reports of a body floating in the water. These abandoned quarries are extremely dangerous, and unfortunately, this marks the third fatal incident in the same location,” said Chief Mpesha.
Authorities Call for Quarry Safety Measures
In response to the recurring tragedies, Kajiado North Sub-county administrator, Samuel Muchiri, emphasized the urgent need for quarry owners to backfill the abandoned sites to prevent further loss of life. He stated that the authorities are awaiting official decommissioning notices to enforce safety measures across the region.
Oloolua Ward Representative, Eli Gor, echoed these concerns, urging quarry owners to take responsibility by fencing off and backfilling the hazardous sites. He also called on the National Environmental Management Authority (NEMA) and other regulatory bodies to enforce safety regulations.
“These quarries have become death traps, and we demand immediate action to prevent further tragedies,” Gor stated.
Community Outrage Over Government Inaction
Residents of Kajiado North have expressed frustration with the county government’s slow response to the ongoing crisis. They accuse local authorities of failing to fulfill repeated promises to address the abandoned quarry issue.
“We have heard empty promises from the county government for years. These quarries continue to claim innocent lives, yet little has been done to resolve the issue,” a concerned resident lamented.
Residents also raised concerns about the county’s emergency response capacity, pointing out the lack of trained divers within the government department. They noted that private divers often have to be hired, leading to delays in rescue efforts.
“In such emergencies, private divers have to be called in, and this process takes time, reducing the chances of saving lives,” they added.
Urgent Action Needed to Prevent Further Losses
The abandoned quarries in Kajiado North have claimed over ten lives in recent years, making it a critical safety concern for the community. Stakeholders are now calling for stricter enforcement of quarry management regulations to prevent further tragedies.
Authorities have urged residents to stay away from the hazardous sites and report any concerns to local officials as efforts to secure the quarries continue.
