- Parents have called for the reintroduction of the Moi era system that saw all vulnerable public schools installed with high-powered lightning arrestors.
- “Back then, it was unheard off that someone had been struck by lightning, unlike now. We believe such equipment will save lives,” Shundu said.
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Parents in Kakamega county are urging the state to install lightning arrestors in schools and vulnerable public areas to avert deaths.
The county is known for heavy rains accompanied by deadly lightning strikes.
Lightning has left scores dead and property running into millions destroyed.
Parents have called for the reintroduction of the Moi-era system that saw all vulnerable public schools installed with high-powered lightning arrestors.
Isukha council of elders chairperson Musa Shundu on Wednesday urged the county and national governments to set aside budgets for the purchase and installation of the equipment, in the shortest time possible.
He said during President Daniel Moi's era all rural schools situated in stormy areas were installed with lightning arrestors.
“Back then, it was unheard off that someone had been struck by lightning, unlike now. We believe such equipment will save lives,” Shundu said.
The elder said not a month goes by without incidents of people being struck and killed by lightning.
He also said facilities that benefitted form the lightning equipment have been looted and vandalised by unscrupulous individuals.
Shundu said the culprits would steal the mercury used to power the arrestors.
He said the government ought to come up with measures of purchasing and securing the equipment to curb vandalism.
"The main problem was looting because the equipment was easily accessible. However, we know there are ways of securing the devices,” Shundu said.
“We need them, the past history of vandalism shouldn’t be the reason we don’t get them.”
Community leader Solomon Alushula said at least two cases of lightning strikes are reported daily.
“And this are just the ones around here. We know there are many others beyond Kakamega and outside Western,” he said.
Alushula called on Kakamega Governor Fernandez Barasa to set aside a budget for the purchase and installation of lightning arrestors, to curb cases of students being killed in the region.
In 2018, a pupil of Ebushibo Primary School in Navakholo was was struck dead by lightning.
Another from Eshienga Primary School was also injured as they played.
In 2017, five children from the same village in Lugari were struck dead by lightning as they played at St Luke Lumakanda Secondary School playground in Tekoa.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)