A somber mood enveloped Nzoia village, Sango sub -location in Likuyani Sub County after lightning struck dead a 23 year old herdsman and one animal over the weekend.
Confirming the incident, Kongoni location acting chief Mr. Peter Lugano said the lightning, which was accompanied by a heavy downpour struck at about 10. pm killing the herdsman instantly adding that the deceased was inside his room at time of the tragedy.
The tragic lightning also electrocuted two cows belonging to the family of Mr. Aggrey Opindi who was the employer to the deceased, “Killing one on them on the spot while the second one was spared with serious injuries,” added the local administrator.
The body was removed to Kipkarren’s Kimbilio Funeral Home in the neighboring Uasin Gishu County.
Lugano has appealed to area residents to take precautionary measures, including avoiding taking cover under trees during this season of heavy rain falls in the region, walking in the rains and leaning on buildings that lack lightning arrestors.
“The month of August has been associated with tragic lightning incidents, especially in several parts of Western and Nyanza regions, thus the need for area residents to be extra careful,” observed Lugano.
The country was thrown into mourning in August last year following the tragic death of five pupils belonging to Tekao, Mbaya and Majengo Primary schools in Lugari Sub County after they were struck by lightning while sheltering under a tree at Lumakanda Boys High school play-field in the neighboring Lugari sub county.
Several similar incidents were reported across Likuyani and Lugari sub counties within the same period in which several families lost loved ones and property, particularly domestic animals.