Milk factory managers in Kenya record statement over staff death in boiler

Mercy Kahenda  John Rono, father to Enock Bii who died at a milk factory in Sachangwan (PHOTO MERCY KAHENDA) NAKURU, KENYA: Four managers of a milk-processing factory have recorded statements with the police following the death of a 26-year-old casual laborer who died after sustaining severe burns in a boiler last week. Jonah Kiptum (security Control operator, Justus Onkoba (processing operator), Kennedy Kareithi (chief operating officer) and Sheila Chepkoech (health and safety coordinator officer), the top manager of Sameer Agriculture and Livestock Limited recorded a statement at Salgaa Police Post in Rongai. Rongai sub-county police commander Richard Rotich said investigations into the death of Enock Bii have officially commenced and the detective was out to establish the circumstances under which the worker died. The incident occurred on May 30, at around 3 am at a newly built milk-processing factory located at Sachangwan, Nakuru. The statements were made a day after a law firm representing the family demanded an explanation on what transpired on a fateful day. Lawyer Winnie Lang’at of Kamoing and Company Advocates gave the management of Daima milk three days to offer a satisfactory explanation to Bii's family. Ms. Lang’ at maintained that the law firm is planning to file a case against the company. Bii, a trained electrical engineer was employed at the milk factory as yoghurt blender. It is not clear on why he was assigned to manually clean an automated boiler. He was a casual laborer earning Sh349, daily. He has worked at the factory for the past six months. On Monday John Rono, Bii’s father said he expects justice to be done.  According to a postmortem examination report by government pathologist Dr. Titus Ngulungu, Bii succumbed to 87 per cent burns.