Man commits suicide by touching high voltage power line

BY MERCY KAHENDA

Nakuru, Kenya: A 24-year-old man committed suicide by climbing on an electricity pole and touching high voltage power line which electrocuted him on the spot.

Emmanuel Ochamu was electrocuted when he climbed metallic electric poles that connect live electric cables in Kaptembwa estate within Nakuru town on Wednesday.

Ochamu, a small scale tomato trader is said to have told friends that he wanted to die. Said Murango, said Ochamu left a note written 'God is alive, we need no money'.

Murango further alleged that the deceased told them that her step-mother had been frustrating him since the demise of his father in 2007.

Ochamu is said to have taken a bathe from stagnant water within the area and prayed before climbing on the top of the high voltage metallic electric poles.

According to his friend and a witness of the incident Edwin Memba, people who were around the area tried to talk to him to climb down when he started climbing the pole but he refused and hurriedly climbed and at some point removed his clothes and threw at them.

Memba said while at the top, he stretched to hold the live wires and he was hit and died on the spot.

The deceased's step mother Rose Ogorede said she was in shock over the incident adding that the deceased had not raised any complain with her.

Ogorede said she has been living with Ochamu peacefully and that he did not disclose to her any frustrations he was facing.

"The last time I saw my son was on Sunday night but he did not complain of any mistreatment," said the mother.

Kenya Power officials arrived at the scene but could not immediately retrieve the body because they had to liaise with their counterparts in Naivasha where the main switch is located.