NAIROBI, Kenya- Rescue operations are ongoing in Loima, Turkana County, after two teenage girls fell into a waterhole while fetching water amid the ongoing drought, the Kenya Red Cross has confirmed.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, January 6, the Kenya Red Cross said its Turkana Search and Rescue team had successfully recovered one of the victims, with efforts continuing to locate the second girl. The incident occurred about 15 kilometres from the nearest village, underscoring the harsh conditions residents are enduring in search of water.
The two girls, aged 16 and 18, had trekked the long distance to access water when the accident occurred.
Dangerous Water Sources Amid Severe Drought
According to humanitarian agencies, waterholes dug in dry riverbeds and sandy terrain have increasingly become lifelines for communities as traditional water sources dry up. However, these makeshift wells pose significant risks due to their depth, unstable walls and lack of safety reinforcements.
The Turkana incident highlights the growing dangers faced by vulnerable groups, particularly women and children, who are forced to travel long distances daily to fetch water.
“Kenya Red Cross Turkana Search & Rescue team recovered one victim; efforts to locate the second continue,” the organisation said in its update.
Red Cross Responding to Multiple Emergencies
The Kenya Red Cross said the Turkana rescue operation is part of a wider national emergency response effort, barely days into the new year.
“Six days into the new year, the Kenya Red Cross has already responded to multiple emergencies across the country,” the organisation said, listing incidents including a collapsed building in South C, Nairobi, 10 road traffic accidents, four fire incidents, and four drowning cases with search and retrieval ongoing in Nakuru, Kisumu, Nyandarua and Turkana.
The Red Cross added that it continues to support communities affected by drought, which is currently impacting nearly two million Kenyans.
The Turkana tragedy comes amid a spate of water-related incidents across the country. On December 28, at least five people died after a fishing boat capsized on Lake Victoria near Siaya County following strong winds, with several others reported missing.
The incidents have renewed concern over safety risks linked to water access and livelihoods, particularly in drought-affected and lake-region communities.
