Tragedy struck a family when their 10-month old minor died of carbon dioxide suffocation in Subukia, Nakuru county.
The baby’s parents were also rushed to the hospital after they were found unconscious in the house, police said.
They had lit a charcoal jiko to warm the house when the incident happened.
Neighbours responded to the man’s distress calls after he realised he was unable to move. The wife too was weak then.
By the time the neighbours broke into the house, the couple had become unconscious and the baby had died.
Police were called and a burning jiko was discovered beside the couple’s bed.
The body was moved to the mortuary pending postmortem while the parents were taken to the hospital and admitted in a stable condition.
Officials warn against the use of jiko in poorly ventilated places.
Carbon monoxide is regarded as a silent killer.
A burning jiko emits carbon monoxide, which is deadly. Carbon monoxide poisoning is more likely to occur when people are asleep.
Carbon monoxide poisoning, always referred to as ‘the silent killer’ , happens when the toxic odourless gases emitted from burning wood or charcoal mix with blood and affect oxygen circulation in the body.
When one breathes in carbon monoxide, it enters the blood, mixes with the red blood cells' haemoglobin to form poisonous carboxyhemoglobin that prevents blood from transporting oxygen.
In Tigoni, Limuru, Kiambu county, a casual worker was electrocuted at a restaurant.
Police said Francis Ndungu, 32, was among workers at the site when he accidentally touched a live naked wire, which electrocuted him.
He was rushed to the hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival.
Police were called to the scene and announced they were investigating it.
The body was moved to the mortuary pending other procedures.
Fatal electrocution cases have been on the rise in the country with most of them being blamed on poor wiring and use of quacks for the same.
Officials also blame illegal power connections for the incidents both in rural and urban areas. There is a campaign to address the menace.
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