Two struck dead by lightning, two lynched for theft in Kakamega

Two people died on the spot after they were struck by lightning in two separate incidents following a heavy downpour in Kakamega County.

In the first incident Rosemary Muramba, a 62-year-old died on the spot after she was struck at Ingusi village in Mumias West Sub County.

The mother of seven was reportedly walking to the kitchen from her main house on Thursday evening to prepare a meal when tragedy struck.

“It was around 7 pm and my wife was headed to the kitchen to prepare supper when the lightning struck her. We discovered her lifeless body moments later,” said Jackson Muramba, the deceased’s husband.

The body was moved to Butere Funeral Home.

Sara Karoye, Eshikalame area Assistant Chief urged residents to handle themselves with care during the rainy season as the place is prone to lightning strikes.

"We have witnessed incidents in the past where lightning has struck many trees around here and even people particularly during a heavy downpour," she said.

The second incident occurred at Lukhapa village in Navakholo sub-county where a class six pupil at Sirigoi Primary School was struck as she was fetching rainwater.

Sharon Misenya, 14, died on spot in the 7 pm incident.

"We had a heavy thunder before the lighting struck killing my daughter and also hitting many trees around," said her father Bernard Okutoto.

He said the daughter thought it wise to collect rainwater oblivious of the lurking danger.

Residents in the area have called on the government to erect lightning arrestors to avert similar incidents.

Elsewhere, residents of Eshikangu village in Butere Sub-county lynched two people suspected to be robbers on Thursday night.

The two were cornered by the angry mob that responded to a distress call from one of their own whose pig had allegedly been stolen by the two. The suspects were accosted as they attempted to ride off on a motorcycle.

“When the owner of the pig raised the distress call, I went outside and saw the two close to my home with the pig on a motorcycle,” said David Shiunzi.

The suspects, in their mid-20s, were beaten up by the angry residents to death before the bodies were burned.

Locals decried rampant cases of livestock theft in the area and vowed to take the law into their own hands when dealing with suspects.

"What happened was a clear indication that villagers are tired of being terrorised by thieves targeting livestock, the police ought to intensify security patrols at night," said Joseph Ameyo, a resident of Eshikangu village.

The bodies of the two unknown victims are lying at St. Mary’s Mission Hospital Mumias Mortuary.