By: Yusuff Baishe
LAMU, KENYA – Residents of the Hidabo area on Amu Island are celebrating a major safety victory after the Kenya Power and Lighting Company (KPLC) acted swiftly to remove a life-threatening hazard that had terrorized the community for over a year.
The Threat: Living Under a Leaning Pole
For months, families in Hidabo lived in constant fear due to a severely bent electricity pole. Instead of replacing the dangerous pole in the past, authorities had simply tied it to another one to stop it from falling a temporary patch job that local residents knew was a disaster waiting to happen.
The tension peaked when videos began circulating widely on TikTok, exposing the unsafe power lines. The fear became a reality when a child living near the pole suffered an electric shock and fainted on the floor. Despite complaints and empty promises from the local KPLC office, nothing was done, leaving residents like Mwanahalima Shee in utter despair: “We cannot even sleep peacefully because of this fear. If it falls… won’t we all die and be turned into charcoal?”
The Turning Point: Swift Action and Relief
Following the public outcry and media pressure, the situation changed dramatically. Within a week of the campaign, KPLC technicians finally stepped in and fixed the dangerous pole, restoring safety and peace of mind to the neighborhood.
The community’s response was filled with overwhelming joy and gratitude:
-Mama Halima (resident and activist): “It is wonderful that they listened to us. That is the kind of quality service we always want, and we are so happy to see our voices bringing results.”
-Mzee Omar (local resident): “There is great joy here because that pole felt like it was just waiting to cause a tragedy. Alhamdulilah, we are very grateful it has been fixed.”
-Said Hassan (Leader of the Lamu Arts and Theatre Alliance CBO): “First, congratulations to KPLC for listening to the community. Second, congratulations to the Hidabo residents for standing together, identifying the issue, and speaking out. If all of Lamu were like the residents of Hidabo, our county would always be at the forefront of development.”
Success Story Highlight: This incredible turnaround proves the power of unity and civic action. By speaking out, sharing evidence online, and holding authorities accountable, the residents of Hidabo successfully turned a terrifying danger into a safer community for everyone.
