The residents of Rangwe in Homa Bay county are grieving following a tragic death that occurred because of an electric shock.
A 55-year-old livestock trader died after stepping on live wires at Nyangweso Livestock Market on Thursday, January 12.
According to Citizen TV, David Okendo met his untimely death alongside the four cows that he had gone to sell.
Kenya Power's Response
Okendo was rushing to rescue his four cattle after they got trapped in the swampy ground with live electric currents.
According to West Kochia location acting chief Kenneth Odhiambo Odero, the trader died on the spot.
“The man was killed alongside the animals he was supposed to sell at the market. He and the animals died on the spot,” Odhiambo said.
The Kenya Power officers removed the loosely hanging cable and promised to fix the situation before restoring power to the line.
The residents had requested the lighting company cut off the electricity before they removed the body from the area.
Homa Bay County Police Commander Samson Kinne said investigations had been started to establish the events preceding the incident.
“We want residents not to go around the place until Kenya Power officers declare it safe. In the meantime, we’re undertaking investigations to know what caused the incident,” Kinne said.
Man dies from electric shock in Kirinyaga
On January 13, a 60-year-old man from Kirinyaga county died from an electric shock when he was trimming trees at his neighbouring homestead.
According to Peter Gicheru, a friend of the deceased Peterson Kamau, he was not in any position to offer assistance but to watch his friend die due to the live currents.
"I watched helplessly as he got electrocuted while trimming the trees; there was nothing I could do to help," Gicheru said.