Uasin Gishu County Fire and Rescue team has retrieved the bodies of a middle-aged man and a 10-month-old baby from separate boreholes in the Ilula area, on the outskirts of Eldoret City.
According to Uasin Gishu Chief Fire Officer David Sitati, the middle-aged man had been hired by a landowner to clean a closed borehole but tragically lost his life due to a lack of oxygen.
In a separate incident, the body of a 10-month-old baby, identified as Joshua Shiburi, was recovered from an open borehole.
“It is heartbreaking to lose such an innocent child in an incident that could have been prevented. I urge landowners to ensure all boreholes are properly covered and secured to prevent such tragedies in the future,” Sitati stated.
The bodies were taken to Moi Teaching and Referral Hospital Mortuary by officers from Kapsoya Police Station.
Increased fire incidents in Uasin Gishu
Separately, the Uasin Gishu County Fire Brigade responded swiftly on Thursday afternoon to extinguish a wildfire at a farm in Moisbridge, preventing it from spreading to nearby homes and shops.
The fire crew received a distress call from a resident at around 2:30 p.m. regarding the fire at Ex-Gulen Farm. Bluegum trees on the farm had caught fire, making it difficult for residents to contain the flames on their own.
Expressing his gratitude to the firefighters, Joel Chelagat, the farm owner, suspected the fire was ignited by an unattended cigarette butt carelessly discarded by a passerby. He commended the fire brigade for their prompt response, which helped minimize potential damage in the area.
Meanwhile, the fire department has urged residents to exercise caution and take preventive measures, especially during this dry season when fire risks are heightened.
Residents are reminded to use the county’s emergency numbers—0710646464, 0532061185, or 0706389888—to report any fire incidents and provide accurate information to ensure a swift response.
