Standard Eight pupil among three killed by lightning strike

Kisii, Kenya: Residents of Masabo village, Kisii County, are mourning three people struck dead by lightning.

The three, including a Standard Eight pupil, Mogiti Okindo, died while working on a farm.

The Tuesday evening incident however saw a three-year-old child escape unhurt and a woman admitted at Christina Maryanne Hospital, Kisii.

Mogiti’s uncle, David Maranga, said his niece had gone to collect utensils that had been used to serve the women lunch when lightning struck. She died on the way to Gesusu Hospital.

“There was rain in the distance and a thick cloud hung over the village. We expected a heavy downpour,” he said.

On Wednesday morning, residents were yet to come to terms with the tragedy.

John Ogucha, the headteacher of Chironge Primary, where Mogiti was a pupil, said the entire school was in shock following her death.

Instal arresters

“We are in shock following the death of one of our pupils, whom we were preparing for the forthcoming final examinations,” he said.

Residents called on the Government to install lightning arresters in schools, churches and other buildings.

“Although we have never witnessed a tragedy of this magnitude, these cases keep recurring and we appeal to the Government to take steps and reduce them,” said Dominic Osoro, the head teacher of nearby Kegogi Primary School.

The survivor and the two women were working on the farm for Sh150 each.