An eight-year-old boy, who was crushed to death after a tree fell on their house in Singorwet village of Bureti sub-county, Kericho, will be laid to rest on Sunday, February 19.
However, the family is yet to come to terms with the tragic event going by the circumstances that preceded the accident after a swarm of bees which had since set up a hive in the inner hollow of the 52-year-old trunk mysteriously left some two weeks ago.
The deceased, a PP2 pupil at Cheplanget Primary School, was found dead by his grandmother who at the time of the incident had gone to a neighbour’s house to collect bananas for their evening meal when she had the commotion.
Confirming the 5pm incident, Bureti sub-county police commander Peter Isanda said at the time of the tragedy the minor was in their iron sheet roofed mud house when the tree came crashing.
A village elder Peter Mutai told KNA the family was saddened by the death and called on well-wishers and people of goodwill to assist the family rebuild their new house to facilitate them to move on after losing a loved one.
Family appeals for help
“When the incident happened I was at a ‘chamaa’ meeting near the homestead and I rushed to the place on hearing screams coming from the home. We pray to God to give the family strength.
"We are appealing to people of goodwill to assist the family in constructing a new home for them as currently they are seeking shelters at their neighbours houses. Any assistance will be highly appreciated," said Mutai.
The deceased great grandmother Alice Chepkwony revealed that the tree could be around 52 years old adding that it did not look old but it came crushing, destroying two houses which the family had built near it.
Granny Chepkwony looks as though she could be 90 with her wizened face and tiny frame having seen three of her generations was too distraught to talk with tears running down her cheeks.
The deceased grandmother Roseline Chepkorir said that she had left the house leaving the boy in the company of his mother with another child to go to a neighbours house and on coming back she could hear the creaking sounds of the tree when she started screaming alerting neighbours who joined in raising alarm too.
Grandmother Chepkorir added that she saw her granddaughter leave the house and also her grandson leave the house but later went back inside to look for his mother when the tree finally came crushing, killing him.
“When I was coming back to the house I heard the tree creaking sounds which got me scared and I raised the alarm alerting my neighbours who joined in by screaming and shouting for those inside the house to leave immediately.
"I saw my grandson leave the house only to go back inside in search of his mother who was still in the house and that was when the tree came crushing. I immediately went back inside and found my grandson buried in a heap of fresh tree leaves dead but his mother survived the tragedy," said Chepkorir.
She added: "This is very distressing for my family even as we are currently holding a fundraiser on 17 February to meet the funeral expenses and we are appealing to well-wishers to come to our help."
The body of the deceased was moved to Kapkatet hospital mortuary for preservation.
