Education stakeholders calls on government to install lightning arresters

Education stakeholders have called on the national and county government to install lightning arrestors in schools and market centres to reduce cases of students being struck by lightning.

Led by Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe, he said Kakamega County is prone to heavy rains accompanied with a storm that blow off roofs of classes and bring down classes and bridges.

“Cases of lightning strikes are on increase since rain is usually accompanied by thunderstorm and lightning and schools have fallen victims of such disasters.  We need concerted efforts from both the national and county government to safeguard our students against such calamities,” Wangwe said. 

Last year, two pupils died and 22 injured during a cluster ball games held at Esumeiya Primary School. In the same year, a 48 –year- old man was also struck by lightning while in his house in Mwambuli village, Lugari sub county during a heavy downpour. His three children were left with burns and their house destroyed beyond repair.

Following the incident, the legislator has installed 8 lightning arrestors in the constituency and pledged to install more to avert the situation. Each lightening arrestor cost Sh2.5 million after installation.

“There is a need for construction of a disaster centre to help train locals and institutions on how to respond and prevent incidences such as lightning in schools and homes as many people do not know the dangers,” he noted.                        

In August 2015, seven pupils were struck by lightning while playing football St Luke Lumakanda Secondary School where five of them died on the spot.

 In 2010, 12 people died on the spot and several others were left nursing injuries after being hit by lightning while attending a church service in Navakholo.

The national steering committee headed by Kwanza MP Ferdinand Wanyonyi lauded the initiative and asked parliament to pass a bill of hanging leaders who mismanage public funds.

“Corruption is killing Kenya because of selfish individuals.  We are inspecting the projects since many projects are usually launched, money set aside for development but you find there’s nothing when you visit the site,” he said.

He added, “I am impressed how Navakholo used Sh14 million to construct a storey building of class one to 8 at St Raphael’s Burangasi Secondary School and also put up lightning arrestors to prevent disasters.”

He said the members of parliament should act as oversight by passing laws that will prevent the country from losing millions of money.

 “MPs need to monitor how public funds are spent and action taken against those found mismanaging public funds. There’s a need to re-introduce death penalty law as punishment for corrupt leaders. Countries like China are doing that and it has helped reduce corruption cases,” he said.