Benard Kyalo, a resident of Ngomeni, Mwingi North, was left in intense agony after a venomous cobra bit his genital area while he was attending to a private call at his home.
In an interview with a local tv station on Monday, February 16, 2026, Kyalo recounted that he had gone to relieve himself when the snake struck just as he was finishing.
In the panic, he managed to fend it off and push it back into a hole, but not before sustaining a severe bite.
“Jana saa kumi na moja hivi nilikua nyumbani kwangu nikasikia haja kubwa, nikaenda msalani kujisaidia. Kabla sijamaliza, nyoka aliniuma sehemu ya siri,” he recalled.
Urgent medical attention
The horrifying incident caused excruciating pain and required immediate medical care. Dr. Peter Musyoka, who attended to Kyalo, confirmed the severity of the bite, noting significant swelling and tissue reaction in the affected area.
The doctor administered antivenom and provided supportive treatment, stressing the critical need for prompt care in cases of venomous snakebites, especially when sensitive areas are involved.
“Sehemu ya siri ilikuwa imevimba sana na ilionyesha athari kubwa ya sumu ya nyoka. Tulimpatia sindano ya antivenom na matibabu ya kuimarisha,” Musyoka said.
Rising snakebite cases in Kitui
The incident comes just months after medics raised alarm over rampant snakebite cases in Kitui County.
Between 2020 and 2024, a total of 1,939 snakebite cases were reported at public health facilities, though the actual number is believed to be higher due to victims seeking private treatment or alternative remedies.
Kitui County has identified snakebites as the leading Neglected Tropical Disease (NTD), particularly in constituencies such as Kitui South, Mwingi North, Mwingi Central, and Kitui East.
Kitui Governor Dr. Julius Malombe has emphasised the government’s commitment to combating NTDs, including snakebites, through the procurement of antivenom, training of health workers, and public awareness campaigns.
Recent interventions also include drilling boreholes and rehabilitating dams to improve sanitation and reduce disease prevalence across the county.
