A somber mood engulfed Makhonge village, Misikhu ward in Webuye West Constituency after a middle aged man was electrocuted after touching a wire that connecting power.
Speaking to West Media, a neighbor who was an eyewitness, Joseck Matere said he was passing on the road when he heard an unusual sound which prompted him to rush to his neighbor and saw him fallen down but touching a wire in his hand and on trying to disengage him he felt somehow electrocuted and sensing this he rushed in the house and disconnected the power with an idea that he could save his neighbor but unfortunately he was already dead.
He said the late must have touched the clothing line wire which is closer to his house which had touched live wire that ended up killing him immediately but fortunately there was no other member in the house otherwise many people could have lost lives given lack of knowledge on First Aid of saving someone who has been electrocuted.
Mr. Matere however blamed the poor work done by the electrician in the house in that the two wires touched each other and caused the untimely death of his immediate neighbor Mr Richard Sicharani who was a humble man.
He appealed to people who want to install power in their houses to sort only skilled and experienced people who know how to do their work well in order to avoid such incidents in the future.
Rose Wafula, the wife to the deceased said she was not around when the incident occurred as she had gone to the shop to buy some items for breakfast and received a call informing her of the predicament and added the she is still in shock about the incident as she had left her husband at home sleeping and has now appealed to the government and well wishers to support the family as the late was the only breadwinner of the family.
Residents led by Dan Makhanu said the incident is not the first in Makhonge village, since there have been other two and nothing has happened ever since and asked the government to do thorough investigation into the matter and arrest the electrician who installed power in the house as he was the cause of the death.
Noah Mwangala, Mukhe Sub location Assistant chief advised residents to be keen while using electricity and also to make sure that they only use qualified electricians to avoid such unfortunate incidents in the area.
He promised villagers that they are going to investigate into the matter and bring to book those who are doing unprofessional work.
He added that the residents of Sirende location have benefited from rural electrification of last mile and added that due to many deaths occurring because of power they are going to visit every home together with Kenya Power Company experts and see how connections in their houses have been done so that if there is any problem can be sorted out once.
The body of the deceased was taken by police officers to Webuye County hospital mortuary awaiting postmortem as investigation into the matter is launched