Reports Leo Odera Omolo In Kisumu City
DEATH by lightning of both human and livestock as well as destruction of property is not strange in East Africa.
On average, lightning kills about 40 people annually in Kenya alone. It strike mostly during the short-rains season beginning from the months of September and December, and also is very common at the starts of the long rain season in the months of April-May.
In Zimbabwe the death is reported to be averaging between 200 and 250 annually, followed by the neighboring Zambia with an average death toll of between 140 and 180 people annually.
In Kenya the National Lightning Committee is said to have been dormant for lack of funds, despite the fatalities recorded every year.
The most prone areas are low-laying regions of the highlands west of Rift Valley and around Equator. These regions report the highest strikes with most victims being those sheltering rain under trees or in verandas or in the open {tea fields}.
In the South Rift region of Kericho and its environs where incidences of lightning strike are so common. Other areas include the neighboring Kisii region and Southern Nyanza and along the shorelines of Lake Victoria.
Kericho is the region where Kenya most Kenyan tea is grown. The region is always recorded the highest number of incidences of deaths caused by the thunderbolt. Other area include the North Rift region of Uasin Gishu, Keiyo, Nandi, Marakwet, Trans-Nzoia and the menace spread of the low-laying land of Bungoma, Kakamaga, Mumias Busia and Siaya.
It is for this reason that one of the multinational tea companies, the Unilever Tea Company Ltd. {formerly Brooke Bond Tea Company Ltd.} and its Tanzania subsidiary, the Tanzania Tea Company Ltd, recently carried out a special study to monitor to monitor lightning strikes with the view to evacuate personnel in time before lightning strikes.
The study was also driven by the stringent policy on safety of its personnel in the tea fields. The companies have invested heavily in technology as well as management systems. Over 22,000 workers are benefiting from a safer work environment. There have been no more facilities and the number of false evacuations has reduced, resulting in more productive man hours.
This innovative programme carried out in Tanzania and Kenya impressed the judges of the inaugural East African Community Corporate Social Responsibility Awards 2010 held in Dar Es Salaam recently.
The companies were awarded the “Best Workplace Practice Award in the Bank M- sponsored awards. The awards were held in partnership with East African Business Council, and a Nairobi weekly the EASTAFRICAN.
“The programme, incorporated a comprehensive risk assessment to evaluate the greatest risk employees face – lightning strikes in the tea plantations, “noted the judges.
The judges selected this program specifically for its rigorous approach to assessing the biggest risk facing employees and putting in place comprehensive management and reporting systems to ensure that the initiative was carried out to its best and challenges were overcome. Partnering with local and international experts and technology organizations as well as investing time in communicating and training employees creatively about the new system is testimony to the true commitment Unilever Tanzania and Kenya have made for their employees.
In the same category, Safaricom the largest mobile phone provider in Kenya,Foundation’s “World of Difference Program” – a secondment program sending employees to the Foundation’s non-governmental organization partners such as Red Cross Kenya to provide training and support on IT systems, administration and marketing was highly commended by the judges.
Twelve employees have been sent to four NGOs and more employees will be sent this year.
Voluntary Service Organization was brought on board to measure and evaluate employee performance.
Tea is grown in Tanzania’s highland region of Mufindi, and also in Malawi Mt. Sochwe region near Blantyre, KERICHO AND Sotik Highlands and the Nandi Hills as well as Maborokie in Limuru area. These are the areas which attracts most rainfalls during the rainy season in the year, making them prone to lightning menace.
Ends
leooderaomolo@yahoo.com