Nakuru: Lightning Strikes 5 Family Members While Using Phone During Heavy Rains

• Five family members were hospitalised at Keringet Nursing Home and Olenguruone sub-county hospitals after being struck by lightning
• Their mother, Emily Cheruiyot, said the five were in the same room using their phone when the tragedy struck
• The lightning was caused by heavy rains experienced in Kuresoi South in Nakuru county on Monday, May 6

Nancy Odindo, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings more than three years of experience covering politics, news, and feature stories across digital and print media in Kenya.

Nakuru - A wave of shock has swept through the residents of Karandit village, Kuresoi South, as lightning struck five family members inside their home amidst heavy rainfall in the area.

The Kenya Meteorological Services Director, David Gikungu, had previously cautioned about the likelihood of thunderstorms and lightning accompanying the intense rains across the country.

According to a report by Citizen Digital, Emily Cheruiyot, the mother of the affected teenagers, revealed that one of the children was engrossed in using their phone, oblivious to the looming danger of lightning.

Cheruiyot recounted that following the strike, the children were left crawling on their bellies, prompting a neighbour to swiftly transport them to the hospital for urgent medical attention.

"Lightning struck at 6.30pm following heavy rains and it struck the children whom we were together in the same room. When it struck, all of them fell to the ground and started crawling using their stomach," said the devastated mother.

Doctors at the Keringet Nursing Home and Olenguruone sub-county hospitals where the teenagers were rushed have confirmed their stable condition.

Weatherman predicts decrease in heavy rains

Meanwhile, the weatherman said that the intensity of heavy rainfall experienced in the country would reduce later in the week.

According to their latest report, some areas including the Rift Valley and Western region will still receive heavy rains in the next few days.

The Coast, North Eastern, and Western regions would receive high average daytime temperatures of more than 30°C.

What else you need to know about heavy rains in Kenya

• The Narok-Mai Mahiu road was cut off by floods in the Naivasha area, paralysing transport for hours
• The government started cutting down trees along the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway, fearing they might fall during heavy rains and affect traffic
• A boda boda rider carrying a passenger was swept by floods while crossing a flooded river

Proofreading by Otukho Jackson, a multimedia journalist and copy editor at TUKO.co.ke