This archive report was first published on 22 November 2019.
Residents of Kerio Valley in Elgeyo Marakwet County live in constant fear of deadly snake bites, which have claimed several lives in recent months.
According to local residents, the dry spell has forced snakes to slither into people's homesteads in search of water, making the area a hotspot for snake bites.
One such victim was Samuel Kanda, 65, who succumbed to the deadly venom after being bitten by a snake as he entered his homestead in Kapchebar last month.
His son, Joseph Chepkiyeng, remembers the day his father was bitten: 'It was around 7 o'clock when we heard wails at the gate. When we responded, we found our father groaning in pain. He said he had been bitten by a snake.'
Despite efforts to save him, Kanda died as he was being taken to Kapsowar Mission Hospital.
However, not all snake bite victims are as unlucky. Sharon Murgor, a resident of Rokocho, was bitten by a venomous snake in September 2019 but was saved by traditional medicine and anti-venom.
Ms Murgor said: 'I started screaming and when neighbours came, they found me writhing in pain. It is they who realised I had been bitten by a snake. They carried out some first aid on me using traditional medicine before I was rushed to Cheptebo dispensary.'
Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) in the area have been using a traditional concoction called 'the black stone' to treat snake bites, which has proved helpful in saving many lives.
Stephen Cheruiyot, a local CHV, said: 'The black stone is a life saver for the locals. It slows the body metabolism and prevents the snake venom from circulating in the body.'
However, Cheruiyot cautioned that the application of the black stone should be left to trained CHVs, as it can lead to death if used poorly.
Elgeyo Marakwet KWS warden John Ngalia said snake attacks account for more than 90 per cent of human-wildlife conflict cases in the region.
