Family agony as two young brothers drown in a trench during outing

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Mrs Ochango, whose two sons drowned in Zimmerman. PHOTO/ ANTHONY OMUYA | NATION 

By LUCY KILALO lkilalo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Friday, January 6  2012 at  22:30

IN SUMMARY

• One of the boys knew how to swim but his efforts to save his sibling who had dived into the water were in vain

Billy Lubanga Ochango and Ian Anyembe Ochango woke up as usual and went about their daily routine. They watched cartoons, took breakfast and then went out to play with their friends in the neighbourhood.

Billy, who was 11, and seven-year-old Ian were close siblings. Their mother, Macktilder Anyembe Ochango, said this closeness was evident even when they stared death in the face.

On December 29, the boys decided to leave their Githurai 44 Estate around 9.30am, together with their friends.

They took a shortcut and reached a trench filled with water in Zimmerman Estate. Their plan was to swim.

Mrs Ochango said when Ian, the brave one, took a jump and began to drown, his brother dived in.

As a scout, Billy knew how to swim, but his efforts to save his brother were in vain; he also lost the fight.

The trench is said to have been dug by the company constructing the Thika highway. According to residents, it was probably meant to be a 4.5-metre-deep sewer.

“I believe if it is written that you will die on this day or this hour, and you cannot stop it. These children had never gone that far, nor had they gone to swim at that place. They used to play around here and loved football,” Mrs Ochango told the Nation.

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The death was a big blow to the family that had lost a new-born baby in mid-December.

Mrs Ochango, who is an accountant with the City Council of Nairobi, had undergone a Caesarean section on December 7.

The baby developed breathing complications and died a few days after frantic efforts to save him at Gertrude’s Children’s Hospital in Nairobi.

But amid all these misfortunes, Mrs Ochango was very composed when the Saturday Nation visited her.

Come to terms

She said that she had come to terms with what had happened and would keep on praising God because He has a reason for everything. 
Her husband works for the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports in Busia.

She said her children, who attended Midas Golden Academy in the estate, were responsible and obedient, and did well in school.

“As a scout, Billy helped other children. He was born again in November 2010. After being asked by the pastor what his reasons were for making that decision, he said he was short-tempered and wanted God to control his temper so that he would not harm other children,” said Mrs Ochango.

He had also begun ushering the faithful at KAG Church in Githurai 44.

“As a mother, the two boys gave me an easy time. I did not struggle with them, even with watching television. They understood the programmes they were to watch and loved singing.”

She added: “As painful as it is, I don’t feel as if everything has gone. I know they are rejoicing, looking at me and saying Mum you do not know what you are missing. I will thank God and not grieve. There is a difference when you know God is there. It is from Him that I draw my strength in moments like these.”

The children will be buried at their parents’ home in Khayinga village, Samia District, Busia County, on January 14.