A report emerged of at least nine people dying in Tharaka Nithi County after consuming poisonous honey.
The victims, all from the Tharaka community, had been consuming honey produced through traditional bee farming, mainly for domestic use or to prepare a traditional brew known as uki.
On the last Saturday of April, two people in Kiaruni village, Tharaka South sub-county, died after reportedly consuming wild honey. Eight others were treated at Marimanti Sub-County Hospital.
Tharaka South Police Commander Margaret Magiri revealed that a 34-year-old man succumbed to his injuries while receiving treatment, while a woman died at home due to her adherence to the Kabonokia religious sect, which prohibits medical treatment.
"The woman died at home because according to her Kabonokia religious sect beliefs, they are not allowed to seek medical treatment," Ms Magiri said.
Five patients were discharged on Monday, and the remaining three, including a two and a half-year-old child, were out of danger, according to Marimanti hospital nursing services manager Stephen Kamanja.
"We have lost one of the nine patients, discharged five after they improved, and the rest, including a two and a half-year-old child, are responding very well too," Mr Kamanja said.
Mr Kamanja stated that they were working to establish the kind of poison present in the honey, known as nchuura in the Kitharaka dialect.
Nchuura is produced by a species of smaller bees known locally as tuchuura, which do not sting. Locals believe that nchuura is medicinal and is highly sought after, often eaten raw.
Similar incidents occurred in the past, including in July last year when three people in Muguruka village, Tharaka South, died and four others were treated at Marimanti hospital after consuming a brew made from honey.
Dr Mbae Nkoroi, Livestock and Fisheries Chief Officer, suggested that the honey might have been deliberately adulterated. He stated that researchers have found that bees can detect toxic plants and avoid them when looking for materials to make honey.
"Bees rarely use poisonous materials to make honey, because they are able to detect toxic plants," Dr Nkoroi said.
However, Dr Nkoroi noted that the environment has been seriously contaminated with chemicals, including herbicides and pesticides, which also threaten the bees and their activities.
