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| KPLC technicians |
The High Court has ordered Kenya Power to pay KSh 3.2 million to the family of a 56-year-old woman who was electrocuted by a fallen power line. Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) live line experts dismantle power cables. High Court Judge Julius Ng’arng’ar concluded that Leonard Chuphi Nguta effectively established that he paid significant expenses in treating and burying the deceased, Kwekwe Ngute Choga. “Judgment is, therefore, entered in the sum of KSh3.2 million for the appellant against the respondent. The orders on interest and costs made by the trial court shall remain in force,” Justice Ng’arng’ar ruled as reported by Nation.
The tragic incident occurred on January 15, 2020, when Choga was electrocuted by a high-tension electricity line while walking home from her farm. She suffered severe burn injuries and passed away two weeks later while receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Mombasa Hospital. “She stepped into a puddle of water with a high-tension electricity line. She was electrocuted and suffered 73% burn wounds,” the court heard. Initially, a lower court had awarded the family KSh 657,500 in special damages. However, Judge Ng’arng’ar revised the amount, awarding KSh 3.2 million, which included KSh 2.4 million for medical expenses, KSh 50,000 for pain and suffering, and KSh 100,000 for the loss of life. Why is Kenya Power responsible in Choga’s death Nguta sued Kenya Power for negligence, claiming that the utility failed to remove the fallen wire, which had been lying on the ground for days.
“The accident was caused by the negligence of Kenya Power’s servants, employees, and agents who failed to remove the wire that had fallen and had been lying on the ground for three days,” Nguta told the court. In contrast, Kenya Power denied responsibility, arguing that Choga had ignored safety warnings and failed to exercise caution around the fallen power lines. Despite Kenya Power’s defence, the court ruled in favour of the family, holding the utility company liable for the accident. Woman, son electrocuted in Voi In similar tragic news earlier reported by TUKO.co.ke, a 32-year-old woman and her seven-year-old son were electrocuted to death while hanging out her clothes to dry.
The residents of Sofia village in Voi expressed their grief following the demise of the two after they were found dead. The incident took place when the deceased’s husband was away and only came back at midday to find their lifeless bodies. Some of the residents reported that the electrocution might have been from an illegal power connection line.
by Didacus Malowa