A police officer lost his life after being struck by lightning in Majani Mingi area, Rongai, Nakuru County, on the night of October 3. The tragic incident occurred amid heavy rainfall that lashed the region.
According to police reports, the deceased officer, identified as Constable Francis Somokwony Chesire, was attached to the Muhoroni Rapid Deployment Unit. He was off duty at the time of the incident. Preliminary investigations revealed that Chesire was struck by lightning while taking shelter from the rain outside a house in the Kapsaga area.
At the scene, officers discovered a burnt-out television antenna and damaged cables, suggesting the lightning had hit the house’s electrical system. The officer’s body was moved to the mortuary pending a postmortem examination and further investigations.
Residents in Majani Mingi have expressed growing concern over frequent lightning incidents in the area. Locals have urged authorities to install lightning arresters and other protective gadgets to reduce the risk of fatalities during storms. The region is among those in the Rift Valley known to experience recurrent lightning strikes during heavy rainfall.
In a separate incident in Kerinkani, Narok County, a man identified as Robert Cheruiyot Tonui, aged 29, was found dead on a footpath on October 4. Police recovered two wooden sticks stained with blood near the body, indicating a possible violent attack. The motive behind the murder remains unclear, and investigations are ongoing.
Meanwhile, in Sawagongo, Siaya County, police are probing the death of a 36-year-old woman, Clare Ochieng, whose body was found in her home with visible strangulation marks. Authorities have launched a manhunt for her missing husband, who is a key person of interest in the case.
In another incident in Kaelo area, Laare, Meru County, a 20-year-old man, identified as Dominic Mwongera, was discovered dead by the roadside. Police reports indicate that Mwongera sustained severe head injuries, allegedly after being attacked on suspicion of stealing miraa. Villagers threatened retaliation, prompting police to intervene and restore calm.
Authorities have launched investigations into all the incidents, with postmortem examinations expected to shed more light on the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
