A school trip meant to celebrate talent and achievement has ended in heartbreak after a Form Four student drowned in Lake Victoria during a visit to Mbita, Homa Bay County.
The tragic incident claimed the life of Levis Ouma, a student at Nyalenda Mixed High School in Rachuonyo South Sub-county, leaving fellow students, teachers, and family members devastated.
According to reports, students from the school had travelled to Mbita to participate in the Homa Bay County Music Festival, which was being held at Mbita Boys High School. The learners had successfully completed their performances and were enjoying what was supposed to be a memorable educational excursion before tragedy struck.
After the music festival activities concluded, the students, accompanied by their teachers, made their way to the shores of Lake Victoria for sightseeing. The visit was intended to give the learners an opportunity to experience one of Kenya’s most iconic water bodies and unwind after the competition.
However, what began as a moment of excitement quickly turned into a nightmare.
Police reports indicate that a group of male students later moved to a public bathing section along the lakeshore. Some of them entered the water for a swim as others watched from a distance.
During the swimming session, Levis reportedly found himself struggling against powerful waves. Witnesses said the student was overwhelmed by the rough waters and disappeared beneath the surface before help could reach him.
Panic immediately erupted among the students and teachers as frantic efforts were made to locate him. The incident was reported to authorities by Peter Ochieng Ouma, a teacher at Nyalenda Mixed High School, who alerted police after the student went missing in the lake.
The sudden turn of events transformed what had been a joyful school outing into a scene of confusion, fear, and sorrow.
Following the report, officers from the Kenya Coast Guard Service launched a search operation with the assistance of local residents and members of the public familiar with the waters of Lake Victoria.
After an intensive search, the student’s body was eventually retrieved from the lake.
Authorities confirmed that the body did not show any visible physical injuries, suggesting that the student drowned after being overpowered by the waves.
The remains were later transferred to Mbita Sub-County Hospital Mortuary, where they are being preserved pending a post-mortem examination.
As news of the tragedy spread, grief engulfed the school community. Fellow students who had travelled with Levis struggled to come to terms with the loss of a friend whose life was cut short during what should have been a memorable school event.
Parents and residents have also expressed concern over the dangers posed by open water bodies, particularly for young people unfamiliar with changing lake conditions.
Lake Victoria, while a major economic and tourist attraction, has witnessed numerous drowning incidents over the years, often linked to strong currents, sudden waves, and unpredictable weather patterns.
Police have since launched investigations to establish the exact circumstances surrounding the incident and determine whether all necessary safety measures were observed during the outing.
For Levis Ouma’s family, however, the investigation will do little to ease the pain of losing a young man whose future appeared bright. What began as a journey to showcase musical talent ended in unimaginable tragedy, leaving behind tears, unanswered questions, and a school community mourning the loss of one of its own.
