Four technicians electrocuted preparing ground for police recruitment

Police officer assesing recruit in parts of Rift Valley (PHOTO: Anthony Gitonga)

NAIROBI, KENYA: Four people have been electrocuted this morning by high-voltage power lines at Kamukunji Grounds while preparing the ground for Police recruitment drive.

The 9:00 am incident occurred when a pole being used by the technicians to put up a tent within the ground touched the overhead power lines.

Casualties were rushed to the nearby Bahati Dispensary for stabilisation before being transferred by St John Ambulance to Kenyatta National Hospital for specialised treatment.

The impact of the high voltage current is suspected to have caused severe damage to internal organs of the victims and obvious electrical burns on their limbs.

Meanwhile, thousands of youths are this morning (Monday) expected to troop to recruitment centres nationwide as the National Police Service Commission ( NPSC) begins selecting candidates to serve in the force.

Some 10,000 officers are to be recruited in the police service for a nine-month paramilitary training at the Kenya Police Training College in Kiganjo and Administration Police Training College.

Commission Chairman Johnstone Kavuludi warned against bribery to influence the exercise.

“The recruiting panels were trained properly and we are confident the exercise will go on well,” he said Sunday.

The selection will be done Monday only and successful candidates are to report on October 3, the commission said, to avoid or reduce cases of corruption. Those who sat for their Kenya Certificate of Secondary Education (KCSE) examination last year and are yet to receive their certificates are free to apply for enlistment.