A pupil aged 11 years at Riabanyi primary school in Kisii county died while swimming in River Gucha.
The incident happened on Tuesday evening.
While confirming the incident area chief Enock Omanwa said the deceased Frank Mokua returned from school when he joined his friends at the river to swim.
"Mokua met his death in the river when he tried to swim. He took longer to appear on water something that prompted his friends to rush to his home and reported the incident," he said.
Omanwa said residents who responded to alarm rushed to the scene tried to rescue the deceased in vain.
"Locals arrived at the river where the deceased was swimming with his friends searched for the body for over half an hour before it was found. Mokua didn't survive because he drunk a lot of water," he added.
The chief said he notified police officers who arrived at the scene and took the body to Kisii Teaching and referral hospital morgue.
He appealed to parents especially those who have built houses near the river not to allow their children to swim in the river.