Lightning strikes village, kills two teens

By Robert Kiplagat

Baringo County

Tragedy hit Kitumbei village in Baringo Central District, Baringo County, after two teenagers were struck dead by lightning following heavy rains.

Grief engulfed the village after word spread about the Wednesday night incident, which attracted a huge crowd at the scene.

The two teenagers, Jacob Kiptogoch, 17, who had just completed his KCPE examination and Jerop Tomno, 16, a Standard Eight pupil at Kitumbei Primary School were sheltering at a house when lightning struck them.

Those who witnessed the incident told The Standard the incident happened at around 7pm when three children where sheltering in their house.

Gabriel Kiptogoch, a brother to Jacob, who survived the incident, said he was with the duo in the house when the incident happened.

“It is sad I lost my brother but again I thank God for sparing my life. I was some few metres from where they were seated when the incident happened,” he said.

Former area MP Sammy Mwaita condoled with the family and appealed to the Government to install lightning arrestors.