Kaimosi
storm
An eye witness described the storm;
"The sky appeared as if we were
experiencing a solar eclipse for about 5 minutes, followed by a strong wind
which lasted for over 7 minutes blowing off weighing shed pillars and roofs,
demolishing a few of them and leaving several trees/branches down in
various indigenous tree forests, fuel/timber plantations and even in some
bungalows, factory compound and camps. Tea windbreaks were not spared either.
What followed thereafter were heavy
hailstones consisting of large to medium size crystalline opaque pebbles which
lasted about 7 minutes. These crystals took several minutes to fully melt while
those which fell on depressions and valleys remained until the following day. There was an extensive damage of tea
shoots/bushes in the entire farm. The seedlings in the nursery, especially the
young gum ready for planting were badly damaged as witnessed the following day.
As the hailstorm subsided, a heavy
down pour accompanied by lightening and thunderstorm followed which appeared to
clean up the whole mess. This was then followed by an electrical power failure
and blockage of several estate roads by the fallen trees."
