A 13-year-old boy has died after being electrocuted by a loosely hanging live wire in Cheptais, Bungoma County. The heartbreaking incident occurred on Sunday afternoon, August 17, while the boy was grazing cattle with his siblings.
According to witnesses, the minor, a Grade Three pupil at Kimama Primary School, was playing with the dangling wire that had been left hanging for several days. Oblivious to the danger, he held onto the cable and attempted to swing on it before being fatally electrocuted. He died instantly at the scene, leaving his siblings in shock.
Local residents reported that the power line had been in a dangerous state for days, but no action had been taken despite complaints. Kenya Power officials were later called from Sirisia to switch off the power supply in the area to allow retrieval of the body. The remains were moved to a nearby mortuary pending an autopsy and further investigations.
Police described the death as tragic and confirmed that inquiries were underway. However, angry locals expressed frustration over what they termed as negligence by the power utility company, which they accused of failing to respond promptly to safety concerns.
This latest electrocution adds to a growing number of similar incidents across the country, many of which have been linked to faulty lines, poor maintenance, and illegal power connections. Community leaders have called for urgent action to address the risks posed by exposed and dangling cables in rural areas.
The government has already acknowledged the rising danger of electrocution, particularly in villages and informal settlements. A national programme is underway to eliminate illegal power connections and ensure that all households are safely and legally connected to the grid. President William Ruto has also announced funding to address the menace, emphasizing that human lives must not be lost due to negligence and unsafe power lines.
Meanwhile, in an unrelated incident, police in Nairobi are investigating the death of a 48-year-old woman found in her house in Korogocho slums. The deceased was discovered with a rope tied around her neck. Detectives are working to determine whether she died by suicide or if foul play was involved.
Both tragedies highlight ongoing safety challenges in communities, from infrastructure hazards to mental health crises, underscoring the need for urgent preventive measures.
