One parent and seven pupils at Vuyika primary school in Matete Sub County escaped with serious injuries after being struck by lightning while at the school.
According to the school’s deputy headmaster, Mr. Tony Sirengo, the lightning incident, which was accompanied by rainfall, occurred at about 4 pm on Thursday.
“Two of the affected pupils were outside playing on the school pitch, while the other five were sheltering inside their classroom when the tragedy struck,” said the deputy head teacher.
The teacher told www.westfm.co.ke that one of the victims was a class eight pupil while six are in class seven.
“Seven of them were female pupils with one male,” Sirengo clarified, adding the injured parent was an adult student who was at the time studying in a computer room under the World Vision funded ‘Women and the Web’ project.
The victims were rescued and rushed to Matete Health centre by good Samaritans led by former councilor, Mr. Barasa Wambula, “but the adult learner and two pupils were referred to Webuye Sub County Hospital in Bungoma County due to magnitude of their injuries, “added Sirengo.
The rest remained at the health facility where nurses confirmed they were responding well to treatment and are out of danger.
Matete residents, led by Wambulwa, have appealed to leaders from the area and well wishers to urgently address the problem of lightning by installing arrestors in all schools and designated buildings in order to prevent future tragedies.
“August has been nicknamed the dark month in our Kenyan history,” observed Wambulwa who brought memories of last year when five pupils from Tekoa village in Lumakanda location were struck dead by lightning while sheltering under a tree at Lumakanda Boys High school play field.
