A 12-year-old girl died, and seven others are being treated at Kijana Wamalwa Referral Hospital in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, after consuming contaminated beef in Mbai Farm Village, Kiminini Ward.
According to the deceased’s parents, they received the meat from a neighbor on Thursday, unaware of its potential danger.
Mary Wafula, the girl’s mother, recounted how her children eagerly ate the meal, only to fall ill hours later.
“On Thursday, our neighbor’s son offered me some beef. My children had been craving meat, so I prepared it with sukuma wiki for lunch,” she told Citizen Digital.
“By midnight, all five of my children started experiencing severe diarrhea. On Saturday, I got them some medicine, but by Sunday, one of them had passed away.”
The father, Patrick Wafula, described the harrowing experience of watching his daughter succumb to the illness.
“I tried my best to help her through the night, but I couldn’t. I rushed her to Kiminini, but she was already gone,” he said. “The other four children are still in the hospital receiving treatment. Even I was given an injection. It must have been the meat—it was bad.”
Local village elder Mary Mukhwana confirmed the incident, stating that both health and security officials are investigating to determine the full extent of those affected.
“One child has died, and several others are hospitalized. About four households consumed the meat, and everyone who ate it has reported stomach pain. We are urging anyone who may have eaten the meat to seek medical attention immediately.”
Residents in the area are calling for a thorough investigation into the source of the contaminated beef, urging health officials to act quickly to avoid further casualties.
