The evening of Tuesday 13th of February 2024 was a sad one for residents of Kona Mbuta Manyatta area in Kisumu County.

A man was electrocuted after he climbed an electricity pole belonging to Kenya power trying to fix the electricity cables that had caused a blackout.

The incident is said to have happened at around 9 pm that evening.

The man operated a barber shop and was working as a part time electrician.

“He climbed the electric pole to try and fix his connection after a power outage. He was working as a barber and partly as an electrician,” a fellow colleague said.

According to local residents, the man had an attempt of transferring electricity currents to an active power cable only for him to encounter a live line that led to his untimely death.

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His body was retrieved from the scene and moved to the Jaramogi Oginga Odinga Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary.

Police and Kenya Power officials reported to the scene of crime an hour after the incident occurred.

Residents claim that Kenya Power delay in fixing black outs

The residents said that there was a power blackout that the barber intended to fix, which had prompted operations to halt during the day. 

They say that numerous cases of people trying to fix electrical connections without approval were common due to delays by Kenya Power.

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“These are common practices here and I have done it severally because if you wait for Kenya Power you will wait forever,” said one of the residents.

However, addressing the journalists, the area Member of County Assembly (MCA), Johnston Oketch, cautioned the residents from bypassing Kenya Power officials to fix electricity. 

“This is a sad death and “we’re reminded to always stick to our levels, power lines are very sensitive, and we should keep off at all times,” Oketch stated.

However, Kenya Power and Lighting Company(KPLC) has not yet issued a statement on the case.