Boy, 6, killed, grandfather injured in lightning tragedy

A six-year-old boy has died after being struck by lightning while resting under a tree in Dtisue village, Magarini subcounty in Kilifi county.

Police said the boy was lying on a mat with his grandfather aged 50, when lightning struck the tree on Friday.

The impact left the child unconscious and caused burn injuries to his grandfather’s thigh and left buttock in the Wednesday incident.

Both were rushed to Ramada Dispensary Hospital where the child was pronounced dead on arrival.

His grandfather received treatment and was discharged in fair condition.

The boy’s body, which sustained burns on the stomach, was taken to the Malindi Sub-County Hospital mortuary for preservation, awaiting postmortem.

Such incidents are common in some areas in the Coast with authorities urged to instal lightning arresters to curb the menace.

Last week, two people were killed in a similar incident at the Indian Ocean in Lamu.

Elsewhere, a 25-year-old man was shot dead in Kimothon Forest, Endebess subounty, in what police are treating as a murder investigation.

The deceased, identified as Boaz Kibet was found lying beside the road with a gunshot wound on the chest, which exited through the back.

Preliminary reports indicate he may have been in the company of two other unidentified males at the time of the shooting.

The scene was processed by crime scene investigators, and the body was moved to Kijana Wamalwa Hospital mortuary for preservation pending postmortem.

Authorities are appealing to anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

And a 32-year-old man was fatally injured during a violent raid by attackers on a grazing field in Turbi Bubisa subcounty.

Police visited the scene and established that gunmen raided the grazing area intending to steal livestock.

During the attack, Boru Katelo Wario, a 32-year-old, sustained a gunshot wound to the back on the right side of his ribs, with the bullet lodged in his body.

In addition, his hands and lower legs had burn injuries.

Investigators recovered one 7.62x51mm and six 7.62x39mm spent cartridges at the scene.

The body was handed to the family for burial according to Islamic rites.Police in the area condemned the attack and are urging communities to report any information that may help prevent further incidents.

Security teams were dispatched to the area to pursue the gunmen, police said on Friday adding no arrest had been made.