Student struck dead by lightning

A form four student of Goseta boys in Kwanza Sub-County Trans Nzoia County was on Monday evening killed and over 15 others injured by lightning.

The students were at the playing field after normal lessons when they were struck during the 5.00pm incident.

"We had just left class and playing at the field when it started raining some of our colleagues took shelter under a tree when the lightning struck,’’ said a student who survived the tragedy occurred. 

Five students who has been seriously injured were rushed to Kitale County hospital before one died as doctors attended them.

The Principal of the school Mr Hudson Wasike told the Standard that students were playing after the normal lesson when the incident occurred.

"It is true we have lost one student and several others are fighting for their lives in hospital where we rushed them for treatment after the tragedy," said Wasike.

Dr Dennis Nanyingi, a doctor at the Kitale County hospital, told journalists that they had received five students but one died while undergoing treatment.

"We received five students but unfortunately one died while undergoing treatment but the four other are responding to treatment and are in stable condition,’’ Dr Nanyingi said.

15 more students were brought at around 9.00 pm complaining of severe headache and were treated and discharged.

Journalists who had gone to cover the story at hospital were roughed up by teachers and had their equipment damaged during the confrontations.

Citizen cameraman Collin Shitiabayi and his K24 counterpart Geroge Njoroge, Issac Fwamba and Charles Kemosi of Kalya Northrift radios respectively were attacked by teachers of the school and blocked from taking pictures of the injured students.

It took the intention of police officers who had been called in that the journalists managed to take pictures.

The journalists later reported the assault attack at Kitale police station.