Two secondary school pupils were killed by lightning on Wednesday morning in Ibote village, Tharaka South sub-county, Tharaka Nithi County.

The mother of the Form Three daughters, Jackeline Kanyua, 15, and Florida Kendi, 16, was also burned when she tried to put out the flames on their faces.

The mother told reporters that at about 3 a.m., amid a severe downpour, she witnessed a bright flash of lightning followed by thunder and quickly realized that there was light in the next room where her girls were sleeping.

PHOTO | COURTESY police car

She hurried into the room to see her girls' bed engulfed in flames, which were also on their faces.

She claimed that after extinguishing the fire, she attempted to rouse the girls only to discover they were already dead, prompting villagers to come to her aid.

An adjacent tree with a cable connected to the house where the sisters were sleeping was also struck, implying that the wire carried the energy to the house.

According to Tharaka South sub-county officers Commander Margaret Magiri, who confirmed the event, officers reached the spot. They transferred the bodies to the Marimanti Level Four Hospital mortuary while continuing investigations to determine what caused their death.

Ms Magiri said that they had started investigations into the deaths of the Three girls who are suspected of having been killed by lightning

In other news, The Directorate of Criminal Investigations has obtained CCTV footage showing how a Ruiru-based man dumped his lover's body after allegedly killing her in a domestic fight.



According to police, the deceased's lover, Morris Njuguna (28), planned to murder her on April 17 before disposing of her body.