That is why they built it there,

Regular amusement park rides are generally inspected on a regular basis.

If you have ever been to an amusement park you will see them doing it.

It is a daily thing.

The state is supposed to inspect once a year. The slide was built at the Kansas park because other states had lower height restrictions. That's really saying something, because Schlitterbahn's home state is TEXAS.

Maybe a 16 year old kid that has no idea what he is looking at.

When you see a major amusement park daily look at roller coasters and you can tell they know what to look for.

Has there been an explanation yet?

I've been wondering if the little boy was seated at one end with much more mass on the other? Then perhaps friction imparted angular forces on the raft, causing it to bounce as it descended?

EDIT: Terrible design to put up netting rather than securing the raft to the slide in some way, not to mention the "Velcro" harnesses.

No.