One person died while another is fighting for his life in the hospital after they were struck by lightning at Triangle Shopping Center near the Maasai Mau Forest in Narok South Sub County. Victor Bii, 34, now deceased, and his friend Weldon Mutai had sought shelter in a hotel after heavy rains pounded the area when the incident occurred. The body of Bii was taken to Longisa General Hospital in Bomet County while Mutai is undergoing treatment in the same hospital as he had sustained serious injuries. Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu (right) is shown the Emergency and Response center by the Narok County Director of Disaster Management Ms. Nancy Laboso Narok South Deputy County Commissioner Felix Kisalu, who confirmed the incident called on members of the public to be on high alert during these heavy rains season to avoid deaths and incurring losses of their property. ‘People should start evacuating to safe grounds before the El-Nino season as this area is prone to lightning, floods, and mudslides,’ he said. The incident occurred when the County Government launched an emergency and Response center in Narok town in preparation for the heavy rains after the county was classified as a Red-Spot County. While commissioning the center, Narok Governor Patrick Ntutu and Narok County Commissioner Isaac Masinde cautioned residents against crossing swollen rivers and sending children to far places without anyone accompanying them. Narok County Director of Meteorological Services Peter Karanja confirmed most parts of the county are likely to receive rainfall with some parts of Transmara and Narok North receiving 10mm to 50mm this week. According to the weatherman, the mornings are likely to be generally sunny but occasional rains may occur in a few places. The forecast showed that afternoon showers and thunderstorms are likely to occur in several places with nights being partly cloudy though showers may occur over a few places.

Source: Kenya News Agency