Kenya Power has been ordered by a court to pay a primary school drop-out Ksh15.7 Million following the electrocution of the young man.
The utility company is set to make payment to the 21-year-old man who was electrocuted while herding cattle in Meru in 2015.
In the March 2021 ruling, High court judge Francis Gikonyo stated that the amount awarded would cater for pain, suffering, and loss of amenities, medical expenses incurred, doctor’s fees and future medical expense.
"It is trite law that special damages must be specifically pleaded and proved. The plaintiff pleaded special damages for which he produced receipts in support. Contrary to the contention by the defendant, all the receipts produced by the plaintiff bore revenue stamps," he stated.
According to court documents, the young man who was 16 years at the time of the accident tripped and fell on a live electric wire that was lying loosely on the ground.
"As a result, he suffered electrocution and sustained severe injuries namely; 5th-degree burns of the right forearm, 4th degree burns to the left distal shin, ankle, foot, 3rd-degree burns to the right anxilla, amputation stump of the right forearm, scars over anxilla, left shin, ankle, scars over the foot, stiffness of the ankle joint with obvious valgus deformity, Loss of right upper limb," the plantiff stated.
The plaintiff was forced to have his arm amputated as it had severe burns following his admission to hospital.
"The loss of the right upper limb has led to severe debilitation and made him drop out of school since he could no longer write leading to an extensive period as an outpatient," the court observed.
Earlier in February 2021, Kenya Power was ordered to pay a sum of Ksh4.4 million to an underage boy who was electrocuted in 2014.
The unidentified minor suffered injuries after tripping and falling on a live wire. The judge in his ruling stated that the money would help cater for the replacement of his limbs and future medical expenses after he became incapacitated following the accident.
"It will be absurd for a court to tell the youngster to wait to pay for the medical treatment in a complication that will occur in future and then come back to reopen the suit and claim the same as damages.
"With the presented medical knowledge, the medical personnel are capable of estimating future costs of medical treatment on the minor who has sustained serious injuries," ruled the judge.
