By ROBERT KIPLAGAT
A 16-year old boy is fighting for his life at Kabarnet District Hospital following burns in a blast from an explosive at Loruk in Baringo County.
Smith Losiwareng had his right hand amputated after serious mutilation by the explosive in Loyamorok village. The partially exploded bomb also left the herdsboy with severe injuries on the head, face, chest, abdomen and burns on his left thigh.
Kenya Army officers who trained in the area are suspected to have left the device.
According to a witnesses, the boy was hurt at the eve of Easter and was rushed to hospital by army officers at the camp where he is receiving treatment.
His father Mr Kipkiror Nokolkori said he was informed of the incident by another herds boy and later found his son later in hospital writhing in pain.
"This incident was caused by a device left by the army training in the area and the Government should consider incurring the expenses as I don’t have money to foot the hospital bill," Nokolkori said at the hospital, Saturday.
He said the Government should be considerate of the local community living around the army training camp, as they are vulnerable to such tragedies and called for compensation for his son’s amputated hand.
Hospital’s medical superintendent and surgeon Dr Robert Pukose said the boy is in a stable condition and out of danger after undergoing an operation.
The medic added that army officers who rushed the boy to hospital said the boy stepped on a six millimeter partially exploded bomb occasioning him the severe injuries.
"Though he lost his right hand, the boy is responding positively to medication and he is expected to be out of hospital in the next one week," said Pukose.
He added that the army officers visited the boy in hospital and promised to investigate how the incident occurred to ascertain the real cause of the explosive.
Dr Pukose, however, challenged the Government to compensate the boy as his productivity and future wellbeing will be adversely affected after he lost his right hand.
Area police boss Mr Fredrick Ochieng denied knowledge of the incident but promised that investigations will be launched to unravel the cause and nature of the explosive.
