Two women tragically died after being electrocuted while washing clothes at a rental house in Sikwadhi trading center, Homa Bay County.

According to the assistant chief of Karading sub-location Alphonse Odero, Roseline Akinyi Opiyo, 29 and Judith Achieng Ochiel, 28, were hanging their wet clothes on a clothesline that was in contact with a live electric wire.

Reports indicate that as Roseline touched the metal clothesline, she was electrocuted. Judith, upon seeing this, rushed to help her friend who was still holding onto the live wire. The electrical current caused Roseline’s muscles to involuntarily contract, making it impossible for her to release the live wire.

When Judith tried to help Roseline, she also became part of the conductive path, leading to her own electrocution and death. The flow of current through her body caused the same lethal effects and died on the spot.

The women were washing clothes, which likely made their skin more conductive, further reducing the body’s natural resistance to the electrical current. This increased the danger and lethality of the shock.

Homa Bay County Police Commander Hassan Barua confirmed the incident, stating that preliminary investigations revealed the landlord had engaged in illegal electricity connections.

“The landlord is accused of using illegal means to connect electricity to tenants,” Commander Barua said.

Further investigations into the incident are ongoing, and the police have vowed to hold the responsible parties accountable for this preventable tragedy.