- A KCSE student who had just completed the national exams three days ago died tragically after a hippo mauled him
- The student had gone to take a bath on the shores of lake Victoria when the incident happened
- The student was among a group of three, but was the unlucky one who was unable to flee to safety when the animal spotted them
A promising young life was tragically cut short just three days after completing his Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) exams.
Maxwell Ochieng’, an 18-year-old Form Four leaver from Osieko Secondary School, met his untimely demise at Kokina Beach in West Yimbo, Siaya County, on Tuesday evening.
Maxwell, who had recently completed his national exams, was reportedly at the lakeshore to take a bath when disaster struck.
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He was accompanied by three friends when the group came face-to-face with a dangerous hippopotamus lurking near the water.
As the others managed to flee to safety, Maxwell was not as fortunate. The aggressive hippo mauled him before tossing his lifeless body into the lake.
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The incident occurred around 6:00 PM, leaving the local community in shock and grief.
West Yimbo Chief, Paul Olang’, confirmed the tragic attack and stated that a search operation would begin on Wednesday morning to recover Maxwell’s body from the lake.
As of now, the body remains missing.
Chief Olang’ urged the community, especially parents, to take extra precautions, warning children to stay away from the lakeshore, particularly due to the heightened water levels caused by recent rains.
He expressed deep concern over the dangers posed by the lake’s increased water levels, which have displaced wildlife, including the hippos, to areas closer to the shore.
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The Chief further appealed to parents and guardians to ensure the safety of their children and prevent any more senseless deaths like this one.
“We must take care to avoid such unnecessary tragedies,” he said. Maxwell’s tragic passing serves as a painful reminder of the ever-present dangers that lurk in natural environments, especially during unpredictable weather conditions.
