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Operations at a flower farm in Naivasha came to a halt recently when a tragic accident occurred. A worker cleaning the roof of a greenhouse was electrocuted after a metal-handled broom he was using came into contact with a live electrical wire.
The incident happened at a flower farm located off the Naivasha-Kirima road, at Nyondia. The worker was busy sweeping the roof when his broom, with its metal handle, touched a live power line. The electric shock instantly knocked him down, causing a panic among his colleagues who fled to safety.
Upon learning about the accident, police officers were dispatched to the scene. Emotions were high as they worked to remove the body from the farm. According to Naivasha OCPD Stephen Kirui, the worker and his team were assigned to clean the greenhouse roofs when the accident occurred.
Kirui shared that initial investigations suggested the accident was accidental. The metallic broom made contact with the power line, leading to the worker’s death. The body was taken to the local mortuary for further examination. The police have opened an inquest file to look into the details of the incident.
In related news, a different kind of drama unfolded in Longonot, a nearby area. There, police were involved in evicting Maasai herders who had been grazing their livestock on private land. The herders claimed they had leased the land from the owners for pasture. They said they had been living there for over two years without any complaints from residents.
However, the situation changed when one of the landowners decided to take action. They enlisted the help of security personnel to remove the herders from the land. Jackson Angaine, one of the herders, expressed their frustration, stating that they were prepared to challenge the eviction in court.
According to the OCPD, the eviction was carried out because the herders had encroached on private property with their livestock. Local residents had complained about the herders, leading to tensions in the area. The police took action to remove the herders peacefully, but the situation remains contentious.
The flower farm accident and the eviction in Longonot highlight different issues faced by communities and industries in Kenya. The flower farm incident underscores the importance of workplace safety and the need for proper maintenance of electrical installations. The tragedy also serves as a reminder for employers to ensure that their workers are protected from such hazards.
On the other hand, the eviction of the herders in Longonot raises questions about land rights and the conflict between landowners and those using the land for grazing. It reflects the challenges faced by pastoral communities and the tensions that can arise over land use.
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