A plate of beans/Courtesy
Two children have been confirmed dead while other 11 are in hospital after eating bean-like cereals suspected to be poisonous in Sinatule Village of Chevaywa Location in Lugari, Kakamega county.
The two, identified as Emmanuel Wamalwa, 3, and Gideon Wamalwa, 2, passed away while at home, while the 11 were rushed to the hospital Sunday evening after complaining of stomach pain.
The children started complaining at around 3:00 pm before the first child died moments later while they were preparing to take them to hospital. The second one died on the way to the Webuye Sub-county Hospital.
John Wamalwa, their father, said the meal had been prepared by one of his wives before she left for church on Sunday morning.
“I have two wives. The beans were prepared by one of them, and she served all my children. We normally eat these beans, and I don’t know what may have happened,” he said, adding that the wife ate the remnants of the beans at the police station but was not affected.
“They say that moles die when they eat the roots of the plant and that is why it is used to keep the burrows away from crop fields,” Chevaywa chief Alex Giricho said while confirming the incident.
Simon Saka, a medic at the Webuye Hospital, said that the eleven were responding well to treatment and were ready to be discharged.
Sam Oduor is the editor-in-chief at the Western Kenya Times who leverages the power of the Internet in telling stories that shape opinions.
Kazi Nzuri
My brother