Kakamega: Tears as Grade 2 Pupil Is Struck to Death by Loose Kenya Power Line While Going to School
- A Grade Two pupil in Mumias East was struck by electricity from a live wire while walking to school, hours after residents warned Kenya Power about a fallen line
- Locals said the power line collapsed during a storm and accused Kenya Power of ignoring urgent calls to secure the exposed cable
- The child’s death sparked outrage, with villagers recalling similar ignored warnings about hazardous lines and overgrown trees near cables
- Grieving parents and residents demanded justice and accountability, accusing the utility of negligence that cost a young life
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Didacus Malowa, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.
Kakamega - Grief has engulfed a family in Mumias East after their young son, a Grade Two pupil, was struck by electricity from a live power cable while walking to school.
Source: UGC
The tragic incident happened in the morning, just hours after residents in the area reported a fallen power line to Kenya Power.
Did Kakamega residents warn Kenya Power over fallen line?
Despite raising the alarm following a heavy downpour that brought down the electricity pole, the residents say no one from the utility company showed up to address the situation.
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According to eyewitnesses, the minor was heading to school when he accidentally came into contact with the exposed live wire.
Locals say the tragedy could have been avoided had Kenya Power responded to the calls for urgent intervention.
"It fell yesterday, there was heavy rain, and then Kenya Power was called yesterday to come and see how the power line had fallen. They did not take responsibility to come and remove that wire. And unfortunately, in the morning when children were going to school, that’s when this child was pulled by the electricity," a resident recounted at the scene.
The boy’s body has been moved to the Kakamega County Referral Hospital mortuary as investigations into the incident continue.
His grieving family is now demanding that Kenya Power take responsibility, not just for compensation, but to ensure that no other child suffers the same fate.
Why are Kakamega residents frustrated with Kenya Power?
The heartbreaking news has sent grief through the village, with parents and community members expressing anger.
Some of the locals shared their frustration over what they described as negligence on the part of Kenya Power.
Another resident who had passed near the same location a day earlier confirmed that the danger was clearly visible.
"This wire fell, I passed here yesterday, and it had fallen. And people called a lot. If the people from Kenya Power truly know this thing is dangerous, why didn’t they take action, they should have come to do what… fix it," said the resident.
The local community is now calling for accountability, saying this is not the first time such an incident has occurred in the area.
Source: Getty Images
Several residents said they had previously reported hazardous power lines and overgrown trees touching cables, but claimed those concerns were brushed aside.
"This is not the first time. There are people here who understand electricity issues. Trees have been falling, and it’s necessary for these people to stay awake there to save people’s lives. But yesterday, when Kenya Power was called, they said that this isn’t fatal. And yet now it has already caused death. So we are wondering what is happening," another local said.
Can Kenya Power be sued when a person is electrocuted?
As earlier reported, Kenya Power can be held liable for negligence if proven in court.
In a landmark case, the company was ordered to pay KSh 22 million to the family of Joy Mukami, a young girl who was electrocuted by a live wire while collecting firewood in Meru county in 2021.
The incident left her with severe injuries, including the amputation of her hand.
Her mother, Ambrusina Makena Kiulio, successfully sued Kenya Power, with both the High Court and the Court of Appeal upholding the ruling.
The court rejected Kenya Power’s attempt to reduce the compensation, citing the girl’s lifelong trauma.
Proofreading by Mercy Nyambura, copy editor at TUKO.co.ke.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
