9-year old boy cheated death after handling an explosive in Loruk, Baringo North

A 9-year old boy escaped death narrowly after an item he was playing with exploded at Chesesoi near Loruk in Baringo North Sub-county on Monday.

According to the father Stephen Adomokwang, his son Zachayo Adomokwang was playing around their home when he suddenly collected the explosive.

“He was excited with it before he used a nail to strike it before it exploded injuring his left hand badly” said Adomokwang.

It is believed the explosive was abandoned by military recruits who landed to train in the area three days ago.

Adomokwang said he reported the matter to the miliery officers who took swift action to stitch and dress the bleeding wound on his son’s hand, “although they referred us to take a tetanus injection at Loruk dispensary” he said.

He fears that his son, in class three at Loruk primary school might have a permanent injury on his hand.

“I would want if possible the military training be taken away from people’s homes here in Loruk or else the military officers should be careful to dispose well their lethal gadgets once they are through with the training” said Adomokwang.

He said young children and livestock were at risk of stumbling on the abandoned explosives, “several of them were planted and left out in the bushes” he said.

In May 2015, an explosive left by the militarily officers killed a 10- year old boy Lukeno Ngorumura at Ameyan village in Tiaty Sub-County.

He was herding family livestock just a few metres away from their home when he collected the explosive and started playing with it.

The father of the deceased, Lukeno Ng’urareng said the government is yet to compensate them following the premature loss of their son.

-JOSEPH KANGOGO