Great to see that Muli Kanene and Judy Gichuru tried to give tips on how to avoid lightning strikes. I wish they would have invited an expert to try demystifying lightning. For example, they did not explain why it is important to put your legs together and as I listened I chuckled as a brief thought came over and I was asking my self.Do they believe that lightning targets airports and pines ? Here I go and I’ll start with types of strikes. I am sure the likes of Mukiha will add something and of course I expect to see the red cockerel myth too.

Direct hit;
Extremely brief and intense but can deliver upwards of 10 million volts (Compare that with your ordinary outlet socket at 240 volts yet hiyo inakutoa jasho).

Side strike;
You are standing under a tree. The tree gets a direct hit but then the lightning jumps to you since you are a better conductor. How you may ask.70 percent of your body is nothing but salty water…huh!

Contact strike;
Your watch, radio, TV……and worst of all, your mobile phone. Switch the damn gadgets off and keep off any electrical appliances or metal grills up to 30 minutes after the last flash.

Step potential;
Current traveling through the ground goes up your leg, travels through you and then goes down the other leg and back into the ground. You deny the lightning a chance to strike you by putting your legs together or better still standing with one leg like the Maasais are fond of...

Over to Wazuans.

Karibu na usile ...(Hata utakula nini na hakuna any? )

@Mpenzi,
Lightning likes soft spots (Ni kama mgonjwa na uji).In this case,the wires (Copper or aluminium) are softer than eucalyptus...ama?

Mine are more questions than answers.

1. Is it true that lightining doesnt strike twice in the same spot?

2. Is it true that a red cockrell 'attracts' lightining?

3. If you stood directly under a building that has lightining arresters, would it still hit you?

1.Lightning can strike the same spot countless time given the opportunity but in most cases it's targets (trees or humans) are usually long gone the next time round.

2.A red cockerel would have a small chance of attracting lightning if it was made of a good conductor like copper or aluminium,was tall enough and it's standing in the rain....but so would a blue cockerel!

3.You can have an arrestor but maybe a piece of it is already in a smelter somewhere in Gikomba.It won't work and therefore you are toast if lightning strikes.Always have the integrity of your arrestor checked by an expert.