This archive report was first published on 6 August 2020.
On October 29, 2019, Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) Board Chairman Mahboub Maalim announced that the company would sack all employees in Kwale County's main offices following the electrocution of a mother and her son.
The incident occurred in Bowa area, where Mwaka Dziwe, 34, and her three-month-old baby Rashid Juma died instantly after stepping on a fallen live power cable.
Locals, joined by human rights activists, protested outside KPLC's Ukunda main offices, demanding the sacking of the staff and the employment of new ones. They claimed that despite being notified of the looming danger, the staff acted with arrogance.
According to a report documented by the Haki Africa lobby group since June 2018, at least six people have lost their lives and property worth millions of shillings has been lost in Kwale due to power errors.
Board Chairman Ambassador Mahboub Maalim confirmed that the process of cracking down on the staff had already started and that no one would be left out. He also promised that the company would take responsibility for compensating the affected families.
"The incidents where people are hurt by power lines because of negligence is unacceptable and we as the company we have taken responsibility and apologised," Ambassador Maalim said.
He assured that the affected family would receive full compensation from the company and that they had already footed the burial bill.
"We are already working on the issue of the family. I have contributed some fee for burial but that is no compensation," Ambassador Maalim added.
