A tragic incident in Kayole, Naivasha has once again highlighted the deadly dangers of working near power lines without professional assistance.
A man lost his life on the spot after a tree branch he was trimming fell onto a power line, causing instant electrocution in a freak accident on Monday, January 5.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the community, with residents now demanding urgent action from relevant authorities.
Confirming the incident, MCA Alex Mbugua exclusively told Kenyans.co.ke that the deceased took it upon himself to cut trees which were obstructing power lines.
"The owner of the land wants to develop the land. Instead of him contacting KPLC to remove the tree, he contacted someone else to remove the tree," Mbugua highlighted.
Kenya Power regulations require anyone looking to cut trees near power lines to contact the company first.
The utility provider can trim or remove trees for free if they're within a certain distance of power lines. Attempting the job without professional help is not only illegal, but can have fatal consequences.
Kenya Power's 2025 annual report paints a grim picture of electrocution deaths across the country. The report documented 122 fatalities, including 115 members of the public, five employees, and two contractors.
The power provider attributes these fatalities to illegal connections, faulty wiring, and encroachment on wayleaves are the leading causes of these deaths.
Recent news reports have documented a disturbing pattern of electrocution deaths across multiple Kenyan counties. In Kisii County, incidents include a man killed while fixing a power line during unexpected power restoration and a young girl who died after falling on a downed cable on September 16, 2025.
The tragedies extend to other regions as well. Two Kenya Power staff members died in Trans Nzoia County while replacing a rotten pole, allegedly because the power wasn't completely switched off on May 10, 2025.
In Kericho County, two police officers were electrocuted while erecting a radio signal mast at Ainamoi Police Station on June 26, 2025.
Homa Bay County witnessed the deaths of a mother and son after she touched a live clothesline that had contacted an improperly installed overhead wire on June 1, 2024.
Residents are now calling on Kenya Power to intensify tree management near power lines to prevent future tragedies.
