SWIMO ...... SWIMMING IN THE RIVER.

Every kid in Mathare has once in their life gone swimming in the River. this is so despite the fact that the River is considered very dirty. The water is not clean as residence along this bunk use it as a way of disposal. when we were kids we used to call it duf mpararo ..... i.e once you were out one would look like ash was smered on them.
This used to happen especially on weekends and school holidays. my parents would scream once i got back home since i was beyond recognition but this did not stop me. Here i would forget that boys or girls were around all that was in mind was to swim or rather play with the water.
Yes i would like to give my kids better, but is swimming in this river bad ? no one really told me of its consequences and till now i fancy the young ones who go there. should i still allow my own to go duf-mpararo, how fun is it ?