A 40-year-old woman died on Friday, 13 March, after she was electrocuted while hanging clothes on a line outside her home in Homa Bay County, in an incident that has raised fresh concerns over the safety of low-hanging electricity lines in residential areas.
The woman, identified as Eunice Odhiambo, died on the spot despite residents’ efforts to rescue her at her homestead in Oridi village, North Kanyikela location in Ndhiwa.
Local residents who rushed to help her were unable to save her after she came into contact with a live electric cable.
Preliminary investigations revealed that a low-lying electric cable had been swung by strong winds before coming into contact with a clothesline at the time the woman was hanging her laundry, resulting in the fatal electrocution.
Area Chief James Omondi confirmed the incident and said the woman died after unknowingly touching a live electric wire during routine household chores.
He said, “The woman tragically succumbed after touching a live wire while hanging wet clothes.”
The body was later moved to Ndhiwa Hospital mortuary, where it is awaiting a postmortem examination and other procedural processes.
Omondi also urged Kenya Power to urgently visit the area and investigate the circumstances surrounding the incident, particularly the presence of dangerously low power lines within the residential zone.
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In a separate incident in Kirinyaga County, two people are nursing injuries at Mwea Mission Hospital after they were attacked by three individuals armed with knives.
The attackers, who were reportedly operating on a motorcycle, assaulted the victims before fleeing the scene with stolen valuables.
According to Solomon Muriithi, he received an alert from his colleague who had been attacked while dropping off a customer at the Maisha area.
Muriithi said he rushed to the scene and found his 39-year-old colleague seriously injured.
He discovered the victim lying in a pool of blood and immediately rushed him to Mwea Mission Hospital for treatment.
The injured man had initially been taken to Thiba Dispensary before being transferred to the mission hospital for further medical attention.
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Police from the Tebere Location Chief’s office and Wang’uru Police Station responded to the incident.
Officers found the victims in serious condition with head injuries from the assault.
Suspects allegedly carried firearms during the assault, but police later stated that they were armed with knives.
Police warned the suspects that investigations were already underway.
“We are warning them, and investigations have been launched,” police said.
Michael Kamau, Chairman of Boda Boda operators in Mwea, condemned the attack and pledged cooperation with security agencies to help identify and apprehend the suspects responsible.
Kamau also called on local authorities to improve security infrastructure in the area.
“We urge the Kirinyaga County Government to install lighting near Wang’uru Girls at Maisha Kamili,” Kamau said.
Authorities said the suspects escaped using a motorcycle after allegedly stealing a bag containing two mobile phones and Ksh 5,000.
The two victims, aged 40 and 39, are currently reported to be in stable condition as police continue investigations aimed at tracking down the attackers.
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Kenya police vehicle at crime scene. PHOTO/FILE
