Two Kibos prisoners die while emptying sewage tank

Warders and inmates look at the septic tank where the two died. [PHOTO: STANDARD]

BY KEVINE OMOLLO

KISUMU COUNTY: Two prisoners at Kibos Medium Prison in Kisumu County have died in a septic tank while draining sewage effluent within the institution.

The prisoners who were serving seven-year and three-year terms respectively were said to have been electrocuted while inside the 15-feet deep tank on Monday noon.

Deputy Officer in Charge of the prison Superintendent Francis Shisoka said a prison warder in the rank of constable had accompanied three prisoners on a routine cleaning of the tank which serves the entire institution.

According to Shisoka, the content of the tank was almost exhausted when one of the prisoners got into the tank to set the pump sucker in position so as to pump the liquid at the base.

The prisoner then fell inside the tank and without the others realizing that he had been electrocuted; another prisoner got in to rescue him when he also fell into the tank.

“It was around 2pm when the constable reported to us and we contacted the rescue centre. We could not manage to save them,” said Shisoka.

He said a mercury switch used to automatically sink the pump inside could have had an opening which resulted into the electrocution.

The officers then suspected electrocution and switched off the institutions main power supply.

A similar incident is said to have occurred at the same point in December 1985 when a sergeant and two inmates died in the tank.

“We consider this accidental but we will get to the bottom of the matter so as to avoid further instances of such nature,” said Shisoka.

County Fire Brigade had to pump out the tank content for three hours using a water generator before they could retrieve the two bodies which had been submerged.

The bodies were taken to New Nyanza Provincial Hospital Mortuary as investigations into the incident commences.

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